> If I had to put the recipe for genius into one sentence, that might be it: to have a disinterested obsession with something that matters. A big missing piece

> If I had to put the recipe for genius into one sentence, that might be it: to have a disinterested obsession with something that matters. A big missing piece of the equation is wealth, or at least financial support. That gives a budding genius the freedom to pursue their interests, the ability to fail knowing that their life or livelihood doesn't hang in the balance. Granted, sometimes genius begets wealth, but usually a person needs at least some support early in their life/career. And then, who knows whether the wealth they accumulate (if they play their cards right) is enough to allow them to hit repeated dead-ends in pursuit of their disinterested obsession.