I agree,about our society, being too full of extremes, but the article doesn't change this at all. It's just more honest about what it takes to make it all the way to be a winner in - a lot of hard work and persistence and a willingness to ignore what everybody else tells you to do. It's not a new view of the way to success, but it is a great message which we have to be reminded of from time to time lest we forget it.
Our society places too much emphasis on superlatives. This emphasis creates a world that idolises extremes and pushes us further towards (ab)normal ideals.
The journey we take towards our goals is where lessons are learnt.