But... this is wrong. The vast majority of the time, yes, but "requires" is a simplification. The amount of work required is massively variable and Gladwell skates right over that nuance. Prodigies exist! I've met some, they can be really nauseating to the rest of us, lol. There are more of them out there than you would think because they are often so screwed up in other ways that they don't become famous. Talk to anyone who has taught hundreds of music students and they can tell you some crazy stories. However, prodigies aren't much use if you can't count on them showing up to the gig. (Some savants are fortunate enough to get the support they need to function professionally, but many aren't)