It should be hard

Kate Smurfwaite, a friend who is a good, smart and passionate comic, maintains that success in comedy is worthwhile because it is takes application and passion and even then not everyone will succeed.

I'm reminded of the first year lecture in logic that discussed necessary and sufficient conditions. Adapting the basic idea to my argument: -

'Talent' is a necessary condition for success in this field but it certainly isn't sufficient on its own; you also need 'dogged determination'

The reverse statement is equally true: -

'Dogged determination' is a necessary condition for success in this field but it certainly isn't sufficient on its own; you also need 'talent'

Every successful person I know would understand this instinctively. My quarrel is with those who argue that 'luck' is a necessary condition for success. How can you genuinely pursue a goal if you have a heartfelt belief that success will require some entirely random, external event to occur some time in the future?