[steve_g]

The caveat is helpful because there's a lot in life that you can't control. Luck plays a part in both success and failure. If you believe that your failures are solely your fault you will be unreasonably discouraged . If you believe your successes are due to you and you alone you'll turn into a jerk.

It's true that your attitude and behaviors matter. Competence is usually rewarded, and you should act in accordance with that truth. But it's not absolute. Life is not a meritocracy (whatever that really means).

[quelsolaar]

I think the lesson is, no matter how good or bad you have it, things outside your control can make it or break it, so forget about trying to predict the future and just go for it.

Or as an old space pirate once put it "never tell me to odds!"