[StandardFuture]

Actually, maybe I am being short-sighted ... but what I get out of this article is that his grandfather WOULD (could) have been just as 'successful' as he was in his 60s much earlier in life if World War II and Mao had not ruined possibilities for his generation.

If he had been allowed to do research from his early 20s wouldn't it still have been possible for him to be just as successful at it? Maybe his 30s would have been his heavy hitting decade?

In general maybe we all get about a decade of heavy hitting and it just happens earlier or later for some? :P

[hakkasan]

I think that it's fair to say he could have made a bigger contribution in a more permissive environment. What I had initial tried to do with this piece was explore the notion of how we define success. I think the success that my grandpa achieved late in his life was a happy byproduct of being able to apply him self through his career. The enthusiasm he poured into his work prior was the real personal reward and not necessarily the recognition he gained.

These are still unpolished thoughts. I want to explore more fully in a future post.

[hobbes300]

The point is that you can still be successful after your 30s.

[StandardFuture]

Sure, but the article does make this point as well:

>My grandpa had no choice but to wait a long time for his opportunity. It's likely he would have achieved even more had be moved to the West.