[randomdata]

You make a fantastic observation here. If I am to believe historic pop culture, athleticism was once the holy grail for child achievement. Every parent wanted a child that was the quarterback. We have now shifted to every parent wanting the smartest kid, but both are rooted in the desire to appear better than your peers, not because it is actually important to be good at either.

I'm a nerd. As such, I appreciate that intellectual pursuits come fairly naturally to me, because it enables me to be a nerd. However, I am starting to grow tired of people claiming it is important for everyone to be that way. It is not. Everyone has different objectives for their life, and being a nerd is often not one of them.

Motivation to create something of value is the only attribute of importance. If you are a motivated athlete, you will do something great. If you are a motivated intellectual, you will do something great. If you are a motivated person without anything else going for you, you will still do something great!