~ spartanic surroundings boost motivation to practice

luxury is a motivational narcotic: It signals our unconscious minds to give less effort. It whispers, Relax, you’ve made it.

[...]

talent hotbeds are not luxurious. In fact, they are so much the opposite that they are sometimes called chicken-wire Harvards.

❐ The Little Book of Talent (citing one of these really famous tennis coaches or something)