One of the fundamental questions in the world is how much intelligence predicts life outcomes. The implications on intelligence predicting life outcomes is that much of the agency that society says you have actually has nothing to do with you at all. And that if you just work hard enough you can achieve success (it’s not really debatable top tier success, you need talent).

There’s another unwarranted aspect to this. How “hard” hard work is. When I do math problems that push me to my limit like the AMC 10, I don’t really think I’m working hard. I feel like I’m using all of my brain. It’s a dopamine hit that I am pushing myself to the edge of my capabilities. I get the same rush when solving algorithms or debugging an obscure error in C++. I don’t think it’s the result of hard work though. I think it’s a gift that was given to me. I have met very few people like this.

The hardest thing to remember is to have compassision for people that were not given this gift. Being born is like being forced to play a poker hand. Some people get good hands and will advocate that everyone else needs to try harder. Some people get horrible hands, and fold (or life folds them). Some people get unlucky hands and can’t comprehend the game they are playing. And the people with good hands… complain about not being dealt pocket aces.

I guess I am just repeating Scott Alexander here. People forget to treat intellect, athleticism, and attractiveness as luck of the draw. It’s not your hard work. It’s not your visualization. You were dealt pocket tens and are giving people the advice on how to win more poker hands.