[ChuckMcM]

The key though from this story is this bit "Having only been allowed to complete his undergraduate degree, he spent decades doing whatever research and teaching came his way."

One the key differentiators is whether or not people are willing to continue learning. People who learn continue to be useful, people who stop learning eventually aren't. (useful that is)

[hakkasan]

Precisely. I think his continued application and exploration are the biggest personal rewards. The opportunity that appeared was fortunate and the acclaim a happy byproduct.