I'm 72 and been retired since I was 59 1/2. No college for me. Went to a trade school and became an electrician. Didn't get rich by any means, just comfortable. Never missed a meal or had a bill I couldn't pay. The biggest problem I see today is complete lack of desire and willingness to work. I have plumber and electrician friends now who would absolutely give their left nuts for a trainee they could count on to show up on Monday morning. Only prerequisite able to pass a drug test. Oh btw, be willing to work with both hands and not have a damn cell phone stuck in their ear.

Lots graduate from college with worthless degrees and the do extremely well for themselves

Very true. There are a lot of places that the only requirement is that you have a degree. You don't have to know anything just have went to college.

A 7 on the beauty scale with $3,000,000 is still a ten

Haven't seen the best choice for the Guys,,, look and marry a Rich, Beautiful, Lady!

And have her hold that wealth over your head? F-that.

Marry someone who will help make you rich.

Yep, it definitely opens up doors, and in some cases opens them up faster then those without degrees. Even if they are worthless degrees.

I would venture to say almost all hard workers will be successful whether they have a degree or not. If you add just one good trait to hard work your chances of success multiplies. The more traits you can add the higher the odds.

Engineers aren’t that weird or quirky these days!

If I had to point to a single characteristic, I'd say the willingness to defer gratification is the most important trait in achieving success in life.

Hard work is step one, but I would say it isn't the most critical. The guys who mow my yard work hard, the roofers and framers who built my house work hard, and the laborers who work in a warehouse driving a forklift or mechanics, all work hard....harder than me for sure. But more importantly you need to work smart, then be willing to make sacrifices either financially, with time, or with spending. Along the way a little luck comes in handy and you'll usually need to take a calculated risk or embrace an opportunity when it arises.....that's where the cream rises to the top. The point you made about adding good traits is a good one as well.

An acquaintance of mine once told me 4 things you should strive for to increase your odds of success....Wisdom, Boldness, Resources, and Vision. I thought it was really good.

If I had to point to a single characteristic, I'd say the willingness to defer gratification is the most important trait in achieving success in life.