> It’s amazing how hard the majority of poor people work.

I've pontificated over and over here that it isn't really about working hard, it is about working smart. I.e. choosing the right things to work on. Digging a hole and filling it in again is hard work, but it isn't going to get anyone anywhere.

However, it does take some effort. Upgrading your job skills is a common way to work smarter.

So it comes down to being smart again, which is largely outside of your own conscious control. That means we're back to being lucky again, no?

How much smarts does it take to realize that improving ones' job skills is a way to improve one's life?

What exactly do you mean with "improving one's job skills"? What can a janitor do to improve their job skills? Learn to code in their free time? I have no idea what exactly you're suggesting.