I would go so far as to say that for talent to succeed in spite of vested interest, there has to be a situation of real perceived crisis and breakdown in order

I would go so far as to say that for talent to succeed in spite of vested interest, there has to be a situation of real perceived crisis and breakdown in order to overcome inertia and cut through the clouds of b-s that usually envelope everything. Otherwise there just isn't enough impetus to ditch 'safe' mediocrity.