The prevailing dogma is that the path to success is to submit to a high-pressure preparation programme. Research suggests this couldn’t be farther from the truth. A paper by Carol Dweck, Greg Walton and Geoffrey Cohen argues that academic tenacity rests on psychological pillars — beliefs about whether intelligence can grow, a sense of purpose, social belonging, and self-regulation. These are shaped by environments where high standards are paired with an achievable path, scaffolding, and care.