As the years have progressed I've become a bit more pragmatic about this, and funnily enough it was always the most oft asked question by students from BFT all the way up to an OCU.
There's a big part of me that took the natural argument, it was after all how I think I got through. On reflection though there were plenty of naturals chopped along the way as well, many as it happened for seemingly solvable problems.
I'm firmly of the opinion that hardwork and determination had and has as a much a place as does natural ability, Lady Luck also played her part as well, I know in my case that the lovely lady was an important component part of my career.