While some weird smart Asperger types like einstein get lucky and find a niche, most do not. He is not the norm. Most struggle in lfe more than most because success most often comes from social skill.

@MsAl True. Same can be said of most creatives

That's good. I also had the same issues. You had a wise dad.

Great parenting.

We often overblow the importance of good grades and academic achievement. I grew up in family of academic achievers. Dad and Mom were very educated, brother and sister were gold medalists and studied on scholarships all along, their news used to flash in town's newspapers frequently, I got better treated in school because I was their sibling etc. But the whole emphasis was on academic achievements. The family was very loving and protective. They gave use everything, often beyond what they could afford. However, we were not taught how to to introduce ourselves, how to interact with people, how to launch ourselves out there in the world, not given useful tips like how to not sell yourself short etc. We all had to stumble in the world and learn it all the hard way.

Not complaining much because we had more than we did not have from parents but parenting tips make a big difference.

I have made a list of what good good parenting is:

Most parents do this:

1. Love
2. Nutrition
3. Medical care
4. Education
5. Knowledge
6. Value system
7. Protect from harm
8. Position family well for good school, neighborhood etc.
9. Watch out for bad company, habits
10. Discipline

Not all parents do this
11. Find a spark in the child and guide to achieve most potential
12. Prepare children all rounded
13. Encourage oratory, public speaking
14. Take you to workplaces, introduce to how things work
15. Discuss current events, their impact, what to learn from them
16. Launch child in life
17. Parents not have bad habits, be healthy and try to live long

We were strong in the first group, very weak in the second.

There are a lot of good things in all cultures. That is why families succeed more in the United States because they keep their best while taking the best from the U.S. This melting pot makes the next generation better prepared to succeed.

@St-Sinner Not all families even do the first group...I see examples daily of most of them, including not protecting children from harm...drug addicted parents are very neglectful of even the basics such as feeding their children...

My parents exposed us to the world, good, bad and ugly...we grew up tough and strong and yet sympathetic and resourceful...