[PapaBear3625]

The combination of high intelligence plus the ability to super-focus on a problem for extended periods of time plus the stubbornness to keep working on something in the face of disparagement = genius

[GregoryFul]

Another critical ingredient is successful conclusion to the off-path quest. I'm sure that lots of highly focused people spin their wheels on absolutely useless and unproductive quests. Note the number of, perhaps entertaining and engaging, but ultimately nuts people involved in UFOs, conspiracy theories of all types, exotic mathematical theories of the universe, spiritual bizzaro worlds, remote viewing, numerology, astrology, fortune telling, ghosts, black magic, voices from beyond the grave, etc., etc.

The ones who stumble on previously unrecognized avenues of truth get the gold. Reading the biographies of some of these people makes one wonder, and 'fraid to go there.