Agreed. Being a top player and staying on top require completely different skill sets.

All the careers you mentioned are "go hard or go home" careers, meaning only 1% succeed while the other 99% struggle.

I'll admit that to be in the 1%, sometimes luck is needed (like with Lionel Messi), but there are other kinds of jobs, like being a doctor or engineer, where being average is still acceptable and profitable.

What do you think about writers? Should we aim to be in the top 1% to succeed, or is being average enough?

Anyway, I'm happy to have a conversation with you.