I think many people like to believe that solving puzzles will somehow make them better at combinatorics. Lateral skill transfer in non-motor skills e.g. office works, academics works etc may not be any better than motor skills. It's easier to convince people that playing soccer everyday wouldn't make them any better at cricket, or even hockey.
Wealth, network and fame transfers incredibly well between fields. Possibly better than anything else. It should be accounted for when reasoning about success in disparate fields. In addition to luck, of course.
Kobe Bryant played soccer, Michael Jordan played baseball, Lebron played football.. it actually makes you even better because you learn non traditional strategies to apply to the other sport you're playing.
