Grammar, Usage / Help me rephrase this sentence in an appealing way :) [5]

Some one asked me today would you hire someone with hardwork or talent...i answered talent and he was like, for the business "Talent is useless if the person isnt going to hardwork. Hardwork is useless if the person has no talent" I found this statement very amazing and i want to add it to my essay but could someone please rephrase it for me (like make it sound like a nice deep meaningful phrase) in a nice way that will appeal the adcom at an ivy league im applying to? i want it to be before this sentence in my essay:

Combining my hardwork and talent, I aspire to work with.....

Essays / Thinking outside the box essay? :) For Upenn [3]

i am applying ed to upenn (ivy league) and im currently working on my why upenn essay and they look for applicants who think ourside the box while writing the essay can u let me know how i can think outside the box? what content should i include in my essay that will really distinguish me? what factors about the school or anything should i mention?