It means almost everything is a skill that needs to be learned. Thus being successful in a school setting could mean one has successfully learned how to succeed

It means almost everything is a skill that needs to be learned. Thus being successful in a school setting could mean one has successfully learned how to succeed at exams, but not really learning anything useful. I recently needed to take a test for a license of some kind, and while preparing with a set of questions noticed I can pick the correct answer without even reading. The correct answer was always much longer than the wrong answers and much more formal which was obvious by even just skimming. It also means the differences between people and their potential are in general for the vast majority of people small. Truly gifted or special is rare, as is truly giftless.