There is No Secret to Success

Whenever Steve Martin is asked about what it takes to succeed in the entertainment industry, he gives advice I used to detest. He says, “Be so good they can’t ignore you.”

I used to hate that line because I thought it focused too much on talent and ignored the reality that luck plays an outsized role in success. I hated it because it also ignores the fact that we all start at different points. Having a parent who is even a C-list celebrity gives you a leg up if you want to be in the entertainment industry.

But over time, I’ve softened my criticism of his advice. I don’t think he’s talking about talent. He’s talking about work.

I think what Steve Martin meant was that you have to do the thing you want to be noticed for. You cannot control luck, who your parents are, or where you were born. The only things you can control are your effort and your attitude.

I still think luck plays an underappreciated role in any kind of success, but the more you play the game, the more likely you are to catch a lucky break.

This is the real message of Malcom Gladwell’s book, Outliers. While many people focus on the so-called 10,000-hour rule, Gladwell’s point was not so much about hitting a magic time threshold…