Yesterday, I listened to a podcast that mentioned a US study showing that, within five years of graduation, taller men and more attractive women from top universities earned significantly more. However, 10 or 20 years after graduation, appearance no longer became a major factor. Performance, leadership, and social networks became key determinants of salary and career advancement. The podcast also mentioned that psychological research suggests children with mild low self-esteem in childhood are more likely to succeed than those with high self-esteem. This is because those who lack early recognition strive to gain it through long-term performance and become more observant of the world in order to achieve it.