Hard work is extremely overrated and actually counter-productive. Working hard, going the extra mile will just get you more work. It's better to work smartly, which selecting what you work, not giving 100% all the time.
Society values success that comes naturally. Overcoming hardships signals to society (and foids, especially foids - they hate when "losers" try to not be losers anymore) that you were destined to fail and are therefore out of place, so you're going to get more hardships, people will try to bring you down.
Skills are definitely overrated. Experience is infinitely more worth it. Being skilled alone means practically nothing.