Malcolm Gladwell's book Outliers gives a fantastic look at inventiveness. In describing the lives of the successful among us, he describes a common design. The successful inventors are focused. They persist in what holds meaning. They are present in determined, creative ways. Each has spent at least 10,000 hours to gain their first round of skill mastery and confidence. 

However, none of the success giants created their results without community or support. No one does it alone.