Good point. Talent may be what separates the top 1% or performers from the top 5% (where that tiny edge matters) but for the vast majority of the bell curve, hard work counts for so much more than raw aptitude.<p>I think our view of this gets skewed by sports because it really is an edge case where you have to achieve a certain level of performance in a very specific time period because your body isn&#x27;t in peak condition forever. Talent may mean you pick up those skills faster and hit that narrow target window. That constraint doesn&#x27;t seem to be nearly as present in other areas to the same degree: if it takes somebody 5 extra years to become a superb programmer, that won&#x27;t absolutely kill their chances of having a successful career at it even if they needed the extra time to get there.