Does the idea of overnight success seduce you? Do you think it is possible to have it all at once? Is overnight success all about being in the right place at the right time?
Let’s get straight to the point. Overnight success is a myth.
What most people call overnight success is actually just success.
Overnight success doesn’t exist, especially in the startup and corporate world.
There’s no fast track to success. It takes time.
“If you really look closely, most overnight successes took a long time.”
As a society, we expect information and entertainment to be readily available.
We want our products delivered today.
You probably see “overnight success” everywhere. It’s ingrained in our culture, and it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking success can happen quickly.
Three examples of successful people
Three famous people illustrate why overnight success is a myth. These examples show how the myth holds you back.
Britney Spears
Britney Spears is a singer, songwriter, dancer, and actress. Her hit single Baby One More Time reached the top of the pop chart in 1999.
According to the media, Britney Spears achieved overnight success and became a global pop superstar. But she wasn’t.
Three years later, she finally achieved her goal. She starred alongside singer and actor Justin Timberlake, singer and actress Christina Aguilera, and actress Keri Russell. The show was canceled in 1995. After regrouping from the show’s cancellation, she released her hit song four years later.
Bill Gates
Entrepreneur and businessman Bill Gates is one of the world’s wealthiest people.
Bill Gates’ first startup was Traf-O-Data. This startup was created to read the raw data from roadway traffic counters. It produced reports for traffic engineers. Bill partnered with Paul Allen and Paul Gilbert.
The startup didn’t make any money. Bill learned a lot from the experience.
The failure was instrumental in making his next startup, Microsoft, a huge success.
James Dyson
James Dyson founded the Dyson vacuum cleaner, the first “bagless” vacuum cleaner. He was frustrated with his vacuum cleaner’s lousy performance.
He discovered his bag was clogging with dust. This clogging caused the suction to drop.
He produced 5,127 failed prototypes before his first “bagless” model was successful. His journey took 15 years.
Overnight success is snake oil.
These three examples above point out that overnight success is a myth. It takes years of learning, years of failure, and years to perfect a craft.
Britney Spears, Bill Gates, and James Dyson all overcame disappointment to reach their success.
The idea of overnight success is a misconception. To plan your life around it is senseless and reckless.
“Timing perseverance and 10 years of trying will eventually make you look like an overnight success.”
Biz Stone, an American entrepreneur who is the co-founder of Twitter
Success requires hard work, courage, resilience, patience, and taking one step at a time.
Any opportunity that promises “overnight success” is snake oil.
Snake oil is defined as an item for sale that doesn’t produce the advertised effects. It originated from mineral oil being sold as a “cure-all elixir” for physiological problems.
We love the idea and concept of sudden success, but we shouldn’t. It skips the key ingredient: the hard work over a long period.
“Success is simple, but isn’t easy because it demands execution, not intentions.”
Success is about the journey, not the destination.
It is about the process, not the outcome. Success is about creating momentum through your daily habits, persistence, and determination to be the best.
The illusion of the bamboo forest
One of the best metaphors for how overnight success can be deceiving is the bamboo forest. Bamboo is one of the strongest and most adaptable plants around.
When you look at a bamboo forest it seems like it happened overnight. It’s an illusion.
Bamboo seedlings don’t rise above ground for at least 5 years. Underneath bamboo is a complex root system that can support rapid growth.
Once its roots are in place, the bamboo grows the cane. It’s the roots, the growth under the surface that people can’t see.
As you embark on your entrepreneurial journey, remember that growth beneath the surface is crucial. This is equally true for your career development journey. It is essential to your success.
You will eventually get a “look at that overnight success” comment. When you do, you’ll understand it was your determination.
Your persistence and courage were the keys to your success. Your hard work and the life lessons you learned from your failures made your success possible.
Bringing it all together
The concept of overnight success is disingenuous. It just doesn’t exist. Don’t fall for the idea.
“Success isn’t always about greatness. It’s about consistency. Consistent hard work leads to success. Greatness will come.”
Dwayne Johnson, also known as “The Rock,” is an American-Canadian actor, producer, and retired professional wrestler
Even if overnight success was real, you shouldn’t own it because you didn’t earn it. You wouldn’t be ready for it.
Success comes when you work hard, trust the process, and learn from your mistakes.
Don’t be lured by the idea of overnight success. It’s holding you back.
