I actually don’t think we’re disagreeing all that much. My success is absolutely correlated to my work, but not at all how hard I work. The grind, the hustle, putting in overtime, all that BS on average gets you nowhere.
You work on challenging things because it’s interesting to you, not because you’ll necessarily get paid more for it. If you work for JJ as a researcher you’re probably paid well, if your a postdoc you’re paid like shit. Same work. Being an ICU nurse is extremely challenging, but the paper pusher administrator above them will make more.
Education and self-improvement on average will increase your success. Toiling away at your job 80 hours a week, working two jobs, gigging on the weekends on average won’t.
One can argue how much or in what way. One persons result doesn't translate to another's result.
Take your example, If you stopped going to work, I expect your success would probably go down. If you tried harder, your success would probably go up.
If there is no correlation between work and outcomes, why ever get a job, why ever get an education, or do anything remotely challenging?
I think it is crazy that people are propagating the idea that there is no advantage to self improvement, education, and trying anything.