The Bus Ticket Theory of Genius
Nerds make it happen
The Bus Ticket Theory of Genius states that great work is a result of a disinterested obsession with something that matters.
This concept is articulated exceptionally well by Paul Graham on his blog paulgraham.com.
Graham's basic point is that in order to be good at something, you have to know a lot about it. And no one knows more about any given topic than the nerds. Nerds are infinitely curious. They never stop learning about their obsession, simply because they love it. They don't necessarily have an end to their means. They're in it for the fun.
Obsession is the only way to uncover hidden intricacies. Most great discoveries are happened upon by chance. Those we now consider to be great minds, didn't sit down and say "I'm going to become a great mind by discovering this, this, and this". They focused on a topic for 40 years and wouldn't you know, stumbled upon something that changed the world.
This is why hitting a legacy unicorn is so difficult. There is immense risk involved in focusing on a single topic for a lifetime. Not only do you have to be an obsessed expert in your field, you have to be lucky enough to be obsessed with something others find valuable.