It's easier than ever before to feel like a failure. Anywhere you look, you can find scores of people half your age but twice as successful. What happened?Full show notesThis week’s episode is sponsored by:

Brilliant: Accelerate your learning in math, science, and computer science. Start learning for free at Brilliant.org/CollegeInfoGeek — and if you're one of the first 83 people to use this link, you'll also get 20% off your subscription.

Things mentioned in this episode:

Sara Dietschy on YouTubeLearned Helplessness (Ep. 99)Learned Optimism, by Martin SeligmanCollection of Short Works (inc. Harrison Bergeron), by Kurt VonnegutWeapons of Influence #2: Commitment and Consistency (Ep. 189)Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion, by Robert CialdiniSteve Carell on WikipediaBreakthrough Advertising, by Eugene M. Schwartz16 Personalities TestDerek Sivers on WikipediaThe Dip: How to Know When to Quit (Ep. 202)The Dip, by Seth Godin5 Questions (Ep. 218)Music Theory 101, by Marc Schonbrun and Brian Boone

Want more cool stuff? You can find all sorts of great tools at my Resources page.You can also get a free copy of my book, 10 Steps to Earning Awesome Grades (While Studying Less), by staying up to date with the College Info Geek newsletter.Timestamps:

0:02:24 - Success is often circumstantial and being more optimistic0:28:26 - Try to be patient and keep striving for success0:31:32 - Sponsor: Brilliant (Learning problem-solving skills)0:34:07 - Being more selective with your ideas and sources of information0:39:48 - Blaming the wrong things for your lack of success and being envious of others0:51:38 - Giving up too early and not finishing your projects0:56:38 - Defining what success means to you and putting effort into it1:02:40 - Recap and conclusion

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