The propensity to work hard and be good at planning is just as heritable as IQ. The extent to which you can defer current pleasure for future gain is basically

The propensity to work hard and be good at planning is just as heritable as IQ. The extent to which you can defer current pleasure for future gain is basically established by the time you're 6 years old, so reaping the benefits of it as an adult is luck. In another way, yes hard work and good planning is vital to success. But you shouldn't pat yourself on the back too hard for it, and you shouldn't think of yourself morally better than anyone else for it. (This isn't sour grapes from me. I'm successful and worked incredibly hard for years without much money.)