When I was a teenager I wanted to be a world-class runner. I trained as hard and as methodically as I could for three years. I could never break a five-minute m

When I was a teenager I wanted to be a world-class runner. I trained as hard and as methodically as I could for three years. I could never break a five-minute mile. I was mediocre, and slower than guys who barely trained but had bodies more suited to running. I still run 25 years later, but just for fun. Perhaps I could run a three-hour marathon if I really cared, but that's far from great. Note that this is completely unrelated to the enjoyment you derive from the activity. If you want to be great at something, you have to pick your battles and play to your strengths. Some people just cannot be great programmers no matter how hard they try. Most people can be great at something if they try hard enough, but most people cannot be great at programming. That was the point that you seem to miss.