The Status Symbols of Earned Success
How to spot the indicators of effort, grit, and earned achievement.
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We’re heading into a future where everyone has six-pack abs.
Not literally (though, kind of). Metaphorically.
Everything is becoming easier, more convenient, and more accessible.
You used to have to write tens of thousands of words to become a good writer. Now, you can ask ChatGPT to sound like Hemingway.
Getting in shape used to mean training 3x a week, for years. Now you can take GLP-1s to lose 50 lbs in six months.
Computer science used to be a four-year degree that gave you access to programming. Now you can code by talking to Lovable.
Artists used to spend decades mastering a technique. Now you can generate a masterpiece in 60 seconds.
I could go on. There are endless examples of things that used to be hard to acquire, now available without having to put in the work.
At first, it looks like progress. But there’s a cost: when the output is easier, it becomes harder to tell who actually put in the work. Writing, code, and even ideas start to look the same.
So, how do you spot the people who’ve earned it?
This question matters—if you’re hiring, investing, building a network, or just trying to find high-agency peers.
Every year, I meet hundreds of people: founders, creatives, operators, researchers.
Now and then, someone stands out. Not because they’re loud or polished, but because they’ve built everything from scratch. No shortcuts or head start.
And over time, I’ve learned to spot the signals associated with effort and high achievement – I call these The Status Symbols of Earned Success – the proof points that someone has earned their achievement by putting in the work and will do it again and again.
Here they are:
Frameworks for Solving Hard Problems
People who have solved a lot of problems have a framework for solving them. They've seen enough variation that they've had to build systems. As they know, it's the only way to move fast without wasting motion.
Tim Urban calls it the difference between cooks and chefs. Cooks follow instructions and need recipes, but chefs understand ingredients enough to open the fridge, see what's there, and make something awesome.
The same pattern shows up at work. Some people freeze the moment they hit friction and will ask for help at the first sign of trouble. Others pause and start debugging immediately.
A good filter: ask someone about the hardest problem they’ve ever solved. You can’t fake the answer.
Obsession With Endurance Sports
Self-made people are weirdly into endurance sports, like marathons, triathlons, and long bike rides.
It makes sense – I’ve never met a lazy marathon runner.
Endurance sports are delayed gratification in its purest form. You train for months (sometimes years) for a single moment of payoff. The suffering never gets easier; you just get better at pushing through it.
Most importantly: you can’t cheat on a marathon. There’s no shortcut to 26.2 miles… the only way to finish is through sheer will.
Endurance sports are proof of self-control, commitment, and the willingness to suffer without applause.
Staying Calm in Conflict
Those who have done hard things tend to stay unusually calm in stressful situations. They almost seem apathetic. It's not that they don't feel pressure; it's that they've dealt with so much conflict that it is second nature to them.
Over time, they've learned that emotional reactivity is costly and usually makes things worse, and the way to stay calm is to create distance between stimulus and response.
Most have a strategy for this. Tim Ferriss calls it fear-setting: deliberately visualizing worst-case scenarios so they lose their power. When real conflict hits, it feels familiar. They’ve already lived it in their heads.
Niche Hobbies
You can learn a lot about someone by what they do when no one’s watching.
High-achieving people usually end up with unusual hobbies. Usually, those that are not high signal or performative typically include some element of collecting, creating, or curating.
These hobbies reveal independent thinking. You don't stumble into passions like these by following popular trends. You have to opt out of default settings, follow your own curiosity, and be a contrarian thinker.
In a world full of distractions, the ability to recognize what genuinely interests you and pursue it without external validation is rare. It’s usually the kind of person who builds things because they want to, not because they’re told to.
Earned Generosity
Generosity shows an abundance mindset. People who have built something from nothing know that they can always create more because they’ve done it before, and they have self-confidence in their ability to create value.
It also reflects earned empathy. Those who weren't handed a head start remember what it felt like to have nothing: no access, no support, no belief.
I’ve rarely met a high achiever who isn’t generous. They understand something most people miss: that generosity pays back 100X in the long run. A small favor, like an introduction or a piece of advice, costs little, but the people will remember who helped them when they needed you most.
The Status Symbols That Still Matter
In a world where output has become easier, effort is more valuable than ever.
You can't fake consistent effort, being calm in conflict, or being generous without keeping score.
These signals are impossible to manufacture, but that's what makes them useful. They are reliable indicators of someone who has done hard things before and will do them again.
If you're hiring, investing, or choosing who to spend time with, these are the status symbols to look for. They are not obvious but will probably predict outcomes better than anything you'll find on a resume.
Pay attention to how someone talks about hard problems, what they do when nobody's watching, and how they act when there's nothing for them to gain, and that's how you can find people worth betting on.
📌 Andrew’s Bookmarks
Important links to help you become wiser, smarter, and more creative.
Everything Feels Like It Doesn't Make Sense by Kyla Scanlon – Kyla perfectly captures the confusion of 2025. On one hand, we have breakthrough technology promising to solve humanity’s biggest problems. On the other, war, chaos, and geopolitical dysfunction feel louder than ever
Generation Why? by Zadie Smith – A decade before people were questioning social media, Zadie predicted the demise of the platform. How it will encourage us to simplify ourselves, act the same as everyone else, and care just a little too much about how we look to others. A sharp read.
the friend who never logs off by signull – How will AI impact our relationships? Will we have less real friends and more AI companions? How do we feel about a friend who is always there for you, and never logs off?
Full Tutorial: Build a Stunning Personal Website with AI in 15 Minutes by Peter Yang – Peter always has excellent how-to guides. In this instance, he shows you how to build a personal website with Bolt, step-by-step.
Don't Let AI Dumb You Down by Elan Miller – A reminder that convenience has a cost. As AI tools improve, the temptation to outsource critical thinking grows, but so does the risk of becoming passive and more “dumb”.
💼 Job Board
Sharing job opportunities that my friends are hiring for. If we know each other well, DM me and I can connect you directly.
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Sales, Social, Marketing, Growth, Networks, and Talent Roles at Andreessen Horowitz (DM me directly if we know each other)
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🖼️ Behind the Scenes
I spent the last few weeks in Hong Kong. It was my first time back in 10 years!
Most of my time was with family, but I also had the opportunity to meet the tech community there.
A few observations:
Nobody drinks coffee – it’s still a niche thing!
The subway feels like the future: air-conditioned platforms, trains every 2 minutes, full cell service underground, and the cleanest subway cars you’ve seen.
People don’t jaywalk — even in one of the densest and busiest cities in the world.
Credit cards are rare. Everyone uses Octopus. (Met the CEO of Coffee who gave me the full breakdown.)
I plan to visit more frequently, perhaps 2–3 times a year. One of the companies I invested in (and now advise) plans to expand there. If you’re there often or plan to make a trip, send me a note!
Great one. Endurance sports is a huge tell for mental toughness
“I’ve never met a lazy marathon runner” - wow. So true! Thanks for this