I added some more in an edit, but I'll restate my question a bit differently here. I think a lot about the many paths people take through life and where they can and cannot lead, so this is a genuine question. Where did you get your successful attitude? Was it innate, or were you exposed to media or people that encouraged it?

For me personally, I think positive-outlook TV shows like Star Trek TNG had a bigger influence on my attitudes toward life than I might want to admit. So I'm really curious where others who take a significantly different path from their peer group derived their motivation to succeed.