Have you read the book The Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell? He also wrote The Tipping Point and Blink. In The Outliers, Gladwell provides a view of successful people from such a surprising angle, that I was totally immersed in his point-by-point explanation. He makes a lot of sense, and I especially found the "Matthew Effect"(For unto everyone that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance. But from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath." - Matthew 25:29) to be a brilliant line of thought.
Gladwell goes on to show that really successful people have around 10,000 hours of hard work or practice at what they do, before becoming "known". If we take only the "Matthew Effect" and the "Ten Thousand Hour Rule" (from the many subjects covered in The Outliers), we see that if we recognize opportunity and then put in the time and effort, we should succeed at what we do.
How do these actions play out in our society of instant gratification? They do not. There are no short cuts; there are no "instant" riches and awards.
We should instill these habits in our children and realize that their futures are at stake.