Personally, I think that the attribute of just being energetic, being able to work for long, and being able to just keep thinking all day in different directions is not something that should be underestimated at all. I think it's really important.
Many of the successful people I have met just have that constant energy and seem to be constantly thinking, while the people who settle into a mediocre life seem to be those low energy, dull people.
Even the manic energy of depression seems to beat the steady niceness of some people.
One thing I keep noticing over and over again is what I call "mental laziness". You see people who work long hours, but they do it without really applying energy. They think of small problems, think of small solutions and end the day content. But there is no mental energy being constantly radiated.
When I read articles about such people like Jessicah, I imagine they must have pretty high energy levels to be able to maintain such a schedule constantly.
[1] I've lived in London, and on both coasts of the U.S, each for several years. YMMV of course.
More than that you'll find a similar level in a ton of other verticals. Go hang out on wall street sometime and tell me that your not seeing a lot of mental energy expended.
I'd hesitate to call this a U.S. thing. The one thing our culture does do, however, is bubble these people to the top.
I've lived in a few countries and the significant difference between them is how well people communicates (i.e.: to write, to talk, to imagine and put that imagination in writing).
US is on top in terms of magnifying something that might be otherwise boring/regular story to a fairy tale.
I don't know Jessica or her company that well but I've read many articles that glorify something that may not be true. To put things into perspective: Jessica Mah is bigger than her company or her product. She is the product. I saw many of her coverages focusing mostly on her life story.
On the other hand, low energy dull people might finish longer (in life) than most of these short-burst high energy people. Have you thought about that? Most people only see what happen now (aren't we all anyway? the current instant generation). Not too many people care/think/analyze those long-term stretch.
However, there are many businesses, VCs and co-founders who are willing to respect and hire you for the experience of trying and failing.
Not so in most countries I have experience in.
http://www.ladieswholaunch.com/magazine/christy-jones/1006
http://www.girlgeeks.org/innergeek/inspiringwomen/jones.shtm...
