That's an interesting take. Basically saying that hopelessness for being great (because they are bounding themselves to being great where their desires link up with capability) keeps them from trying. I think that's a compelling argument.
Sad though, really. A lot of people would be great at things they don't necessarily like doing.
Alternatively, some things you can be great at without anyone noticing. How many of those people you worked with that seemed to be just going though the motions at work, were really great parents to their kids at home, or threw really great parties, or had a really project at home that they never talked about?
Probably most impressed with Jalal Talabani. First Non-Arab president of Iraq, Transitioned Iraq to a new constitution, was a Kurdish diplomat which is just mind boggling if you understand the region. Amazing given all they he has been subject to.
I will never stop being amazed at how few people who are able to be great, actually strive for it though!
Over the years I've been privileged to be on or work with, some of the most high performing, greatness achieving teams I've ever seen. Special operations teams in Iraq, FBI counterterrorism teams, Heads of State, F50 CEOs, Samsung and Google research, machine learning faculty across the U.S. and Canada, etc... Even though it's a higher percentage of strivers, within those groups there is a more significant portion than I would have expected decades ago, who are just going through the motions.
From my interactions elsewhere and talking with friends and family and acquaintances, all who have the brains and work ethic to be great, almost none strive for it.
I empathize with the above quote, and it completely boggles my mind why others don't.