Editor's note: This article blew me away for two reasons:

1. I always wished I was a gifted student. Now, I'm glad I wasn't. By having to focus and fail and repeat over and over to get good at something, I think it prepared me for real life better than my more gifted friends.  
2. When someone compliments me, whether on writing or music or a good business idea, I want to say "if you only knew how many hours I spent alone practicing and failing, you might not be so impressed." The author is right, without commitment, there is nothing.

http://www.hb.org/the-only-thing-that-matters-is-commitment/