I owe you an apology. I'm sorry for the hostility of my initial post. And I'm glad your hard work is paying off. You've earned it.
But "I can be just as good" by working smarter seems a little silly to me. At the margins--when you start talking about being better that good--everybody is already pretty damn smart. There are no shortcuts to success (as I'm sure you know, with how hard you're working now to get your high grades).
My point (not directed at you, just in general): we can't all be the best, and we need to find balance in life. I wish more medical students would realise this before feeling personally traumatised for getting an average Step 1 score or whatever (*cough*
@failedatlife *cough*). It is what it is, and that doesn't mean you're a bad doctor or a lazy person.
Realistic self-acceptance is key to a happy life IMHO. So is being okay with other people being better than you, especially if they consistently outwork you in devotion to craft (which is
not just busy work or obsessing over useless details). That's true for any speciality, even the "lifestyle" ones.
Don't forget that a speciality is often a 30+ year commitment. Imagine how much the world has changed in the past 30 years. No "lifestyle" speciality will look the same in
10 years, let alone 30. Just ask radiology. My suggestion: pick what you love to do and let the rest sort itself out. I know it sounds pat, but ultimately what's in your circle of control?