I think the underlying premise in all these statements is that working hard the "right" way is what makes the difference. I also agree that if you are selling

I think the underlying premise in all these statements is that working hard the "right" way is what makes the difference. I also agree that if you are selling garbage in the slums of India, no matter how hard you work, it's likely going to make very little difference in your overall life situation. At the same time, if you take the average person living in a western society, working hard does make a difference. With it you have a chance, without it you are leaving it very much to luck and circumstance. I also find that very few of us know what working hard really means. Working hard with a focus and a goal in mind will get results.