Random Access Memories

Calvin Coolidge once said:

?Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan “press on” has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race?

But let’s think about this for a minute, name me anything at all in modern life where dogged determination alone will suffice. You must have some ability to adapt or learn, or you need to have the personality to get away with not having ability or persistence.

In the US at least we like to think “If you don’t have what you want, you’re not working hard enough”, but in reality hard work is almost never rewarded.