observation: some people reinvent themselves every couple of years. this is a great feat to pull off. one can start quite average and be in a great place in 10yrs if one keeps moving up a rung every couple of years. the interesting thing is, it's hard to predict who end up pulling off such a thing. some ppl start off really strong, but somehow got stuck not far from the starting line. before you know it, it's been 10yrs, and they are stuck doing the same thing over and over again -- nothing wrong with that of course, esp. if they like what they are doing. but it's amazing to see the occasional individual who, even though doesn't' exactly distinguish themselves at the beginning, go on to grab all these wonderful opportunities and transform themselves and reach incredible heights. what is it? psychological makeup? luck? drive and ambition? open-ness? ability to continuing learning?