but someone who works insanely hard for a long time is going to beat the person who gets just a little bit better each day.
The point is, someone who works insanely hard gets to a certain required level quicker than someone who improves a tiny bit every day for a long time. Think cramming for an exam etc.
Agree that someone who "works insanely hard" will advance quicker. However, I disagree that's necessarily the best approach long-term.
When in university, I did something for each of my courses every day. Studied something new, reviewed past materials, solved an assignment. I did it every day. Continuous improvement.
I never had an all-nighter or really crammed for an exam. Yet I got the best marks. It's not because I was an Einstein - it's because I improved on each of the previous 90 days that got me to the required level faster than working insanely hard over a few days.
Continuously improve - do one thing every day. Two if you can. In 90 days, you'll be 90 ways closer to your goal than you were before.
Someone who consistently gets just a little better every day is more likely to succeed than someone who works insanely hard for just a limited period of time.
The years don't come without the days.