What are some examples of exponential work?

Social circle. Many poorer people are trapped with a toxic employer, bad environment, and no room or motivation to improve. You're just much more likely to have an abusive, alcoholic father or spouse, and then trapped in that cycle. You're more likely to have an abusive manager or deal with disrespecting customers.

Middle class people like on HN also get focused on making enough to retire, even though economy of scale favors making abundant amounts of money. So they get trapped in a cycle of just doing enough and making enough, when it's easier to say, be the best in a field.

Social circle is linked to education and jobs, but you need to have good grades to get a good education, and you need to do well at work to get a good job.

Having children.