He is talking about doing great work, not about becoming rich or successful. You do need luck for your great work to take you places, but your own agency counts

He is talking about doing great work, not about becoming rich or successful. You do need luck for your great work to take you places, but your own agency counts for much of your ability to do great work. Plenty of great work will not reap great rewards; it is done because someone feels that it has to be done.