I can imagine greatness achieved quickly through combining previously-accrued experiences into a new domain. Often people are steadily striving for "goodness" i

I can imagine greatness achieved quickly through combining previously-accrued experiences into a new domain. Often people are steadily striving for "goodness" in multiple areas over many years - maybe one subject as a formal education and another as a hobby. Then you meet a problem that combines the two and you are on the fast(er) track to "greatness". Anecdotally, most people I consider great are generalists with highly diverse interests which seems to support this idea.