Thanks for the comment @onceuponatime; I agree it's not "all one thing," and it's certainly important to not be so locked down in one paradigm that you can't change directions when you need to.

I suppose my perception is also somewhat colored by the fact that I have never been involved with any "runaway successes" but I have done quite well with a number of projects of lesser potential by "simply grinding it out." And heck yes, I can be stubborn!