In real life, generally you become a good scientist by working for or with good scientists and modeling their habits. Likewise, probably, with computer programmers, mathematicians, musicians, engineers, artists, etc. I suppose it's possible to be a total iconoclast and train yourself up to master level in your chosen discipline outside the establishment, but I would wager there are a lot more crackpots who think they've invented cold fusion than there are lone geniuses who ... well, no counterexamples come to mind. Take any great genius of music, mathematics or science and you're more than likely to find a great mentor.

Well, there was Roger Apéry...

And the Wright Brothers, if you count them.