I've always been a fan of the slogger versus the so-called genius. At first glance Kevin Keegan was an average footballer by professional standards. But he put in the hours. As did Beckham, renowned for spending extra time after training to perfect corners and free kicks.
On the other hand I've also been wary of adulation that goes the way of genius, especially one who squanders his talent. Best was always worthy of pity, but not admiration.
Bounce, a book by former Olympian Matthew Syed (Table Tennis), looks like a great read for examples of how the practising mindset triumphs. Take a look at this excellent review.
Dozens of studies have found that high flyers across all disciplines learn no faster than those who reach lower levels of attainment – hour after hour, they improve at almost identical rates. The difference is simply that high achievers practise for more hours. Further research has shown that when students seem to possess a particular gift, it is often because they have been given extra tuition at home.
https://www.theguardian.com/money/2011/jun/04/secret-to-success-is-practice
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