The Sense of Achievement

What does it take to create a sense of achievement?

If you wrote a short novel in one afternoon and it sold millions of copies and put a bundle of money in your pocket, would you have the same sense of achievement had it taken ten years and much sacrifice to produce? You'd probably be pleased at the results of the quick effort, but would that generate a lot of pride?

The amount of time and effort that is expended appears to play a major role in producing a sense of achievement and yet that may be a superficial standard. After all, you may have spent decades preparing the mindset that enabled you to dash off that bestseller in an afternoon. Is it not possible that we possess a common tendency to overlook the hidden price and dedication behind our speedy achievements?

If so, why is that? Is it linked to the snare of working harder rather than working smarter?