Hard Work Vs. Talent

Yesterday we discussed hard work verses talent. An interesting point was brought up, weather or not students at Yale were smarter than us here at Southern. My definition of 'smarter' wasn't necessarily the same as everyone else's. I find intelligence to be exemplified when you look at your life and you are satisfied. Maybe even more than just satisfied, I think intelligence is happiness in a nutshell. Just because you've memorized a bunch of math equations it doesn't mean you're "smarter" than me it just means you are either better at retaining knowledge or have more motivation than I do. If you are happy in your little apartment down town flipping burgers for a living and you have you're health and that's all you need then more power to you. That may not be my idea of perfect but if you are exactly where you want to be doing exactly what you want to do then you must have made some pretty smart decisions to get to that place of perfect bliss. I do not think the girl who stays up until 3 AM studying at Yale to please her parents is smarter than me, a girl who goes to a state school taking on the exact amount of course work she can handle and still be able to maintain a social life. So that's my idea of 'smart', being happy. It takes hard work to be happy sometimes when you live by the american definition of the word. I for one do live in the real world where success in my career will equal happiness. I know that's not everyone feeling on the subject but I whole-heartily believe money can bring you happiness. With money you don't have to worry about much and a worry free life sounds good to me. Hard work will get me to where I want to be, not talent. and I believe intelligence comes from your own personal definition of the word happy. I don't think you are born with talent I think you cultivate it with hard work. There are extenuating factors that can cheat the system but lets assume we're not the exception, like Brian Clark Howard said ''Of course, privilege and luck can greatly ease the way, but there’s little substitute for 10,000 hours of work.''