[tikhonj]

To me, it seems that persistence alone isn't enough either; I'm sure there are plenty of determined but ultimately unsuccessful people. Persistence needs to be coupled with something else--be it "talent" or "genius" or just plain creativity--in order to be successful.

In my experience, a smart person can do well without much work; a hard worker can do well without being particularly smart; but only a combination of the two, and other qualities besides, leads to anything truly interesting.