Dan Lips cites Malcolm Gladwell, author of
The Outliers, who contends most
great success stories spring from unique advantages and opportunities
that enable remarkable achievement. What about Gates and

Obama? Lips
writes (bolding mine):
Consider Bill Gates.
Most people know how, as a young computer whiz, he dropped out of
Harvard to start Microsoft and revolutionize the software industry and
the American economy in the process. But often overlooked in this
simple tale are the events in Gates' life that put him on the path to
greatness.
Gladwell explains that, as a teenager, Gates attended
a private school that offered a computer club. At a time when few
colleges were offering students hands-on computer experience, Gates was
practicing real-time computer programming in the eighth grade. This
early experience led Gates to capitalize on other unique opportunities,
including