> make significant progress towards competency in a new skill by putting in a MODICUM of time, effort and attention.

But even that is not always true. There are some activities where it's hard to see meaningful progress for awhile, but then once you've built up an adequate base you start progressing more rapidly.

These kinds of articles tend to be popular because they make people think that it's easy to learn new things. This is an inspiring idea and if it results in people learning more things then it might even be a beneficial thing to say. But I think it's more beneficial to promote the value of deliberate focused effort (hard work if you will), because some things simply don't come easily.

You're right that some things don't come easy and require hard work.

But how many folks fail to make progress, or check themselves out of even starting an endeavor simply because they've convinced themselves it is "too hard"?

Do we always need yet more reminders one must do "hard work" to accomplish something?

Many times just getting starting on a path is enough of a psychological win to increase motivation and later on achieve mastery.