Success needs no explanation. Failure does not have one that matters.

Both tears and sweat are salty, but they render a different result. Tears will get you sympathy sweat will get you change.

Time is neutral and does not change things. With courage and initiative, leaders change things.

On the political front, of course it's a zero-sum game. If it's all white males holding positions, you bring 10 women in, then it's, 'Women are coming!' Get 10 blacks and it's, 'Blacks are coming!' 'Hispanics are coming!' Zero-sum game. The seatmates might change but the chairs don't move. In the economy, the number of chairs can actually increase.