In general, isn’t it a bit of both? Some people can practice the piano for a trillion hours and will never be as good as top student at a conservatory like Juilliard or Curtis. Someone who has an innate art for painting will never amount to anything if she never picks up a brush.

To be really good at something, doesn’t it make common sense that you have talent, work hard, have the right mentors and a bit of luck?

Shouldn’t we work hard, regardless of whatever newfound theory comes out? Outliers was an interesting read, but I’m not going to completely alter the way I do things because a writer puts out a best seller.