Throughout the natural world, "survival of the fittest" rules, ensuring that the "best genes" are passed along to the next generation. The young, the old and the ill are most often culled by predators and physical traits play a major role when it comes to breeding rights.
In humans, our large brains ensure that competition is more nuanced. Physical, mental and emotional traits all come into play, determining both the availability of opportunities and how we respond to them. Of course, social factors complicate the scenario; discrimination (based on gender, race and other factors) and one's economic status may limit opportunities.
Finally, luck plays a significant role. No matter how competitive one may be, accidents, injuries or illness may intervene. Since such external factors are often beyond our control, it is best to recognize our unique skills and take advantage of opportunities when they arise. For its part, society must ensure that talent and effort are uniformly rewarded.
