Being gifted only refers to intelligence most of the time. But intelligence alone won't make a person excel at their field. You can be among the most intelligent people but still stay in the blue zone.
I think excellence comes to be when intelligence meets motivation, purpose, creativity, social skills or other factors.
And when it comes to the blue zone resilience would be a key factor. If one is intelligent of course you realize your faults quicker as well. However it takes resilience to keep going in the face of your own doubt.
That's why in the real world people who are very convinced of themselves and their own ideas will get far even if not gifted at all.
That’s why in the real world people who are very convinced of themselves and their own ideas will get far even if not gifted at all
Confidence isn't as good for finding the truth or good solutions as it is for tricking other people's brains into thinking that you're a reputable source of information. If you mean "will get very far" as in "capable of raising through the ranks of a hierarchy, regardless of what they actually do with their position later" or "capable of establishing their own little flat-earth cult", then sure, a confident dumb person can achieve that. Not sure that's something to be celebrated though.