Very true. What most people fail to realize is that skills, talent, work ethic, intelligence- all of that can be built and expanded. That’s the beauty of learning: put in the hard work and the results will come out. Any subject can be mastered so long as you practice it.

Thank you. I have been overwhelmed with studying for the MCAT and feeling like no matter how hard I try I’ll never make it because of the competition. This makes me feel a lot better.

100%. This applies to a lot of different careers too. I'm about to be a fully qualified Psychologist and I'm absolutely not a gifted or particularly intelligent person. I just worked hard, and consistently, and I don't take things for granted. I've redone subjects, studied way more than other people I know, been fine to take the longer road to get where I am and I'm now competent and skilled at things I could have never seen myself doing. You can do it!

Dr. Goodman, I am so glad to hear this because I have never been the smartest in the room nor the best test taker but I have always worked my butt off to get what I need in life. I have consistently doubts about be smart enough to be a doctor but thank you for the inspiring information!

I’m in nursing school and I made sure I was gunna work harder than anyone else. Got the highest test scores of the class and got all As my whole time in college.

Ngl, you got me tearing up over here! I'm in my "freshman year" of college when I never planned to go back to school. My passion is dentistry and my goal is to become a dentist. My advisor is no help, and I feel like I'm out of the loop a little bit. Thank you for saying this, You're amazing! God bless you!!

There are plenty of people that could take the mcat as many times as they want and still not get the score needed to get into medical school, and every time you retake it it counts against you. That's only the start of it, the step/usmle exams once you're in medical school are also daunting. Being a doctor is not for everyone and people don't know it but it may be a blessing in disguise if you're not able to perform well enough on these tests. Choose a life path that will make you happy, not one that will make you feel like a failure, because you're not.

A healthy mix of talent, hard work, and a HEAPING DOSE of support from friends and family. I happen to go to medical school in my hometown and it’s amazing being able to go see my parents for just a few hours or so. Talent, hard work, and Mom’s cooking go a long ways

My dad failed out of high school and was still able to work hard enough to be a surgeon. It’s not about your intelligence , it’s about your work ethic.

I'm 18 and I just recently got accepted to medical school in Germany. This is my dream coming true and I'm so excited! By the way, I love your videos!

Yeah, I used to think that but now I’m old and tired and can’t work that hard. Work ethic only lasts as long as you have energy to keep it up

You making me 🤧😥😢😭 I Always stayed up Late studying Yes worked twice As Hard in HS and then as a Single Mom during the Pandemic went back to school. Yes have ADHD and yes always hustling. DON'T EVER LET ANYONE TELL U YOUR STUPID OR U CAN'T. AMEN TO THIS MAN. SHOWING THIS TO MY SON.

I want to be a doctor when I grow up and you're right thank you for the information

I’m not going to med school, but I also have a dream to follow. Your last phrase really motivates me. In the end, it’s not the smartness that takes you to the end of the road, but it is your persistence that carries you there. So just follow one with all your heart ❤️

Thank you for spitting facts, sir!! Fail those admissions exams and tests! Learn what you need to work on! Fall forward. Fail forward! No one is perfect. Don’t let limitations remain limitations. Our brains are incredible.

Definitely true! I am in school for nursing and I am struggling so much. I ain’t a good text taker and I feel that I am constantly studying super hard sometimes I get sad because I don’t get enough sleep. :(

“You don’t have to be super smart to be a doctor.” On behalf of all potential patients, I would really appreciate it if you were.

Wish I could’ve heard this when I was applying to med school and studying for the MCAT. I cried when I got in because I was so relieved to overcome that step after years of work. Ready to continue to work through school and on! :)

Thank you I want to be a children’s doctor this motivated me ❤️

Thank you ^^ There was this girl in my class - she moved away -, and she was very gifted, good at art and her academic scores were matching a dream. She stopped working hard, and a few of us were working very hard, we aren't necessarily naturally gifted, but we all put our effort into it, and the results we are getting average 87%+

I had this conversation with someone at an SMP informational event yesterday. There’s the hard working, the gifted, then the hard working gifted.

Really needed to hear this, in my country there's five univercities where you can study medicine and getting in is really hard, but not impossible

Idk it’s something about his delivery or his voice that just makes me wanna to give him hugs and tell him it’s all gonna be okay

I feel you, and know exactly how you feel. I'm not the top student by any means. I know after taking am IQ test I am pretty close to average intelligence. Also my "processing speed" is slower, so sometimes I take longer than others for things to start making sense. But I worked my butt off and am in my first month of PA school. Hard work pays off.

Such a good life lesson..!

Sweat equity will ALWAYS pay off!!! Well said sir

I needed to hear this, thank you so much! Thank you. Future phlebotomy here. Proclaiming it in the name of Jesus.

You just gave me a hope

Excellent advice and observations! Average intelligence coupled with diligence and hard work will surpass brilliance and lackadaisical effort every time

Dr. Jake Goodman:. I wish that we had more doctors like YOU! :)

I really want to be a Doctor and I have wanted to be one since I was 5, but in the last year I have been doubting my ability. This video has helped me a lot, being a doctor is my dream I hope I can accomplish it!

I'm crying typing this. I recovered from a severe eating disorder that would have killed me any moment and a doctor in the emergency department told me my heart could stop right then and there and nothing could have been done because of my weight. it was too low. I ended up recovering and I wanted to be a cardiologist but got discouraged from my high school transcript. I still need to take the SAT and ACT but you've reignited that spark in me

I just applied for med school just last week, I really needed this thank you. You've got my subscription 🤗

Bro you made me tear up with the last part 😢🙏🏽❤️

He is absolutely correct. Perserverince is the key that will make it happen. I personal know this to be true.

I keep telling people that about most things. Persistence pays off!

✨ wouldn't that be nice ✨ No truer words have been spoken 😭😂

“Hard work will always beat talent when talent doesn’t work hard.”

I am dyslexic, have learning disabilities and ADHD. I became an architect, but I had to work extra hard to succeed. I am licenced now and I'm thrilled with my career choice. Thanks for sharing this message!

I found this advice so helpful when applying for grad school.

So true :( I pissed my life away because I never had to study or work hard. Did the university courses in highschool and was offerred twice to skip grades. Now I have no idea what it is to sit down and study and am so restless i never finished my degree.

"Hard work will always beats talent when talent doesn't work hard " that's some hardcore motivational words 😭😩❤️

"Hard work will always beat talent" So true...

What if talent works hard? Then they would be unstoppable, you wouldn’t even stand a chance!

That was the pick-me-up I needed thanks.

Last Line is definitely 💯💯💯💯

this actually really helped. I really struggle with tests but I love science and stuff. I really want to be a doctor or something medical when Im older and I thought that door was closed. but I might be able to do it. thanks xxxx

I just started med school and the first thing they tell us about is the good enough mother. I used to think that I had to be super smart to make it through but after that lecutre I realized that I just need to do my best and work as hard as I can. At the end of the day, my best is good enough.

Sometimes i honestly feel like i am super smart, and then i step in a room with someone who i wayyy smarter than me. It used to make me insecure and question my career choices. Now i know that my work ethic and my passion for my career is what makes me an asset. I kick ass at work everyday. Don't overthink it. If you know you are doing your absolute best, and you wake up everyday trying to better yourself, you have nothing to feel insecure about.

Thank you, I have dyspraxia and my dream is to become a doctor, I’m always told if I want to become a doctor I need to work twice as hard and I try my hardest and don’t get the highest scores on my tests and I struggle with maths so I then have to work even harder. So this video has boosted my confidence and to push myself even more so if your reading this Jake, Thank you.

This gave me real encouragement

I really needed to hear this. Thank you.

Thanks for the words of encouragement

Thank you 😭😭 you open my eyes ❤

“Hard work will always beat talent when talent doesn’t work hard” wise words

yes. i agree with this. You see, my aunt has a very high IQ and always took pride in it, and didn’t work hard as a result. My mother, on the other hand, didn’t have as high as an IQ. she went to med school while my aunt just didn’t use her natural gift. what makes this really inspiring to me is that my mom worked hard, moved to the US to start a new life WITH my brother, while my aunt stayed in her home country. yes, she was struggling. she worked so hard and now she’s making loads of money every month and is so proud of herself. i love you, mom. WORK HARD, DONT DOUBT YOURSELF.

Totally agreed. The most important things to have is iron will and desperation. If you keep those with you, you will have a lot easier time during rotation and residency which is even more brutal later.

I just saw something on Ken Coleman fb I think. Guy was sad he didn't do well, but wanted go to to medical school. He took it as a sign...don't give up too soon.

Tq for you word, I study law almost 3 year and I stuck at a few subject that make me so depressing and when I at the exam came I almost panic and keep thinking if I fail I need take that road and let my self walk and got hit that will solve my problem. That me when I was 21, elder daughter need keep perfect score and always compare with my brother My normal life

Imagine your doctor tells you 'im not the smartest in the room' right before you go under

Amen! If you want it, you can do it!

This is amazing. Thank you.

True.. True.. Very encouraging

Thanks for now I will do more work 😊😊😊😊😊❤️💖

ACTIVE LISTENING SKILLS!!!! ITS THE MOST IMPORTANT SKILL THERE ARE SO MANY BAD DOCTORS OUT THERE, LISTENNNNINGGG WILL HEAL AMERICA

Hard work beats talent until talent decides to work hard

Ph.D programs require hard work and intelligence equally. MD programs primarily have to do with hard work with some intelligence involved. Being a researcher requires creativity and ingenuity. It doesn't take much creativity to be a medical practitioner, though critical thinking is a must have skill.

I’m sending this to my parents ASAP

And mental strength needs to be very high

Failed all three of my AS exams. Took them again with two A2 exams the next year. My overall result was an E. Had to repeat 11th and 12th grade at a different high school and immediately became a class topper. I scored an average 83% on my board exams this time around, got 87% aggregate and now I'm in my 2nd year of med school. Hang in there, fellas. Your failure doesn't mean you're dumb or unintelligent. You might be going through things like I was, stuff that's not very easy to talk about. But never lose hope, things will get easy ♡

Im totally agree with you, there is some one stay and build his future and other hang out and have fun

Thank you for this.

I worked hard but was constantly told by my teachers that I was too stupid and no university would ever want me, this meant that for my uni applications they either refused to write their bit or wrote negatives, I also got sick and ended up in hospital and even though I would do assignments on time, they refused to mark them. I ended up doing a degree in Nursing whilst working full time at a nursing home. Unfortunately, exams and tests are what are used to prove your worth for certain things, so, yes all the things needed to be a great doctor develop over time but that only happens once the university values your worth from a number on a test! (Sorry but this is a painful subject for me and something that I never recovered from and never will 😢)

Naturally gifted sounds pretty familiar to me and also i am pretty hardworking so yeah

Thanks, that gave me a boost

Same here, I have ADD and I don’t like to depend on medication, so studying for respiratory boards has been awfully hard. Passed my first exam! And now on to the next😓

OMG I really need this....you made my day..

In school I had As and Bs but I never really applied myself. Sciences and history classes were always the easiest to get an A in. The reason for me was that the subjects were factual, evidence based and mostly easy to grasp. I never wanted to be a doctor but if I did I’d ace it. It’s one of those jobs that requires no talent just skill. And let’s be honest, doctors are never done learning. They get a lot of support from their team as well.

That makes me feel so much better as a pre med student. I’ve never been naturally talented at anything but I always try my hardest. This is so encouraging!

I watch your videos for inspiration.. and it really helps a lot ... Thanks 🥺🌟🌟

I just work my ass off. YOU ARE SO CORRECT. IT'S ABOUT YOUR EXACT WORDS.

I really like the PA profession because you need clinical experience prior to applying which I think helps people know what they are committing themselves to. A good path for people who want to help increase access to care for patients and dont care about titles. And if you’re adamant about being a doctor thats great too. There are many paths into medicine, dont be discouraged if you dont fit the traditional model. Dont fear failure, keep trying!

My parents Gave me No choice... They said either 1st attempt or be Shopkeeper... I Cracked it in 1st attempt and got scholarship to till my graduation... Hard work and Stress are essential to be doctor... The Starting Stress is actually just a warm up...

Thank you for this

Agree. I am smart but not genius. Difference between me and others is I worked very hard, persevered through adversity, and I was resilient. Doctors may not be the smartest people out there but probably are one of the most determined, resilient and hardworking people out there. Luckily I got into medical school on the first try and finished residency at age 29. I honestly don’t know how I managed to do all that in my 20s. I think you basically feel like you cannot fail and you must keep going.

Thank you for the motivation ❤❤❤❤

goodman: you don’t need to be a geni- asian parents: *no*

That's the right kind of motivation!

*hardwork will always beat talent when talent doesn't work hard* this

To whoever is planning on taking medical courses, or rather, anything. Trust yourself, dont be too hard on yourself, and trust the process. You'll get there!! One way or another, if you know you can, then you will. Remember to not be too harsh om yourself, you are precious just as anyone in the world

Doc, the full saying goes "Hard work beats talent, but not when talent decides to work hard". There's no shame in busting your ass to achieve something you want but the harsh reality is there will always be someone better than you.

Thank u thank so much now I will do my best insha'Allah ...

I'm so glad I heard this today! Very inspiring ☺️ thanks Dr. Goodman

Thank you so much ♡

And when the talented just give it a shot,you are left behide,far far behide.And,the fact that there are so many genius understand the importance of hard-working is undeniedable.

As a doctor, this is so true

I needed this. Thanks ❤️

Thanks 😊 I want to become a pediatrician and this really helped.

I have been in college for almost 2 years and have made absolutely no progress because I honestly have no idea what I want to do and I don't want to go to that college specifically gotta put my foot down and do something now, better go forward into something than do nothing at all

i want to be a doctor when i grow so much, so his motivation helps lots