Most of the mentioned symptoms of unsuccessful people coincide with those of depression. At least I see similarities with what R. O’Connor described. Same author mentions, that those people do not even realize it, and do not ask for professional help, continuing self-destructive behavior and thinking, which can be both laziness and hard work. Overcoming depression may be effective first step toward successful life. Same reason may be stigmatization of said people like seen even in the comments below like “steer well clear of them”.