Entrepreneur's Corner

The Myth of Overnight Success: Why This Is Fake And Why Hard Work And Persistence Pay Off

BY Steve Biko Wafula · May 15, 2023 09:05 am

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KEY TAKEAWAYS

The term “overnight success” refers to the phenomenon of someone achieving a high level of success or recognition in a very short period of time, usually with little or no prior experience or exposure in their field.

We often hear stories of people who achieve fame, fortune, or recognition seemingly overnight. They appear to have a sudden breakthrough that catapults them to the top of their field or industry. They are hailed as geniuses, prodigies, or innovators who have a unique talent or vision that sets them apart from the rest. But are these stories true? Or are they just myths that obscure the reality of what it takes to succeed?

This article has been inspired by the wash-wash cartels in Kenya and their quest for overnight success. I will argue that overnight success is a myth that overlooks the years of hard work, persistence, and learning that precede any remarkable achievement. I will use examples from different domains to illustrate how overnight success is often the result of a long and arduous journey that involves many failures, setbacks, and challenges along the way. I will also discuss why it is important to acknowledge and appreciate the process of success, rather than focusing on the outcome alone. I hope through this article, I can speak to the millions of young men and women who might be influenced by the allure of easy things as shown by the wash-wash gang.

What is overnight success?

Mark Zuckerberg- founder of Facebook
Justin Bieber- Canadian singer
K. Rowling- author of Harry Potter
Susan Boyle- British singer
Steve Jobs- co-founder of Apple

These are just a few examples of people who have been labeled as overnight successes by the media or the public. They seem to have come out of nowhere and achieved extraordinary results with minimal effort or struggle. They are often portrayed as having a natural talent, a lucky break, or a brilliant idea that propelled them to stardom.

However, these stories are misleading and incomplete. They do not capture the full picture of what these people went through before they reached their peak of success. They do not reveal the hours of practice, the years of experimentation, the countless rejections, the moments of doubt, and the sacrifices they made along the way. They do not show the hard work and persistence that underlie any remarkable achievement.

The Reality of overnight success

The truth is that overnight success is a myth. There is no such thing as achieving something great without putting in the time and effort required to master it. As Malcolm Gladwell famously argued in his book Outliers, it takes about 10,000 hours of deliberate practice to become an expert in any field. This means that anyone who wants to excel at something has to dedicate themselves to learning and improving their skills for a long period of time, usually several years.

This applies to any domain, whether it is business, music, literature, sports, or science. Let us take a closer look at some of the examples mentioned above and see how they debunk the myth of overnight success.

Mark Zuckerberg

Mark Zuckerberg is widely known as the founder and CEO of Facebook, one of the most popular and influential social media platforms in the world. He launched Facebook in 2004 when he was a 19-year-old student at Harvard University. Within a few years, he became one of the youngest billionaires in history and one of the most powerful figures in the tech industry.

However, Zuckerberg did not create Facebook out of thin air. He had been interested in programming and computers since he was a child. He taught himself how to code and built several websites and applications before he started working on Facebook. He also had access to mentors, resources, and opportunities that helped him develop his skills and ideas. He did not just wake up one day and decide to create a social network that would change the world. He had been preparing for it for years.

Justin Bieber

Justin Bieber is one of the most famous and successful singers in the world. He rose to fame in 2008 when he was discovered by a talent manager on YouTube. He was only 14 years old at the time and had no formal training or experience in music. He quickly became a global sensation with millions of fans and sold-out concerts.

However, Bieber did not become a star overnight. He had been singing and playing instruments since he was a toddler. He had been performing at local events and competitions since he was six years old. He had been posting videos of himself singing covers of popular songs on YouTube since he was 12 years old. He had been honing his voice and style for years before he got noticed by a professional.

J.K. Rowling

J.K. Rowling is the author of the much-loved series of seven Harry Potter novels, originally published between 1997 and 2007. Along with the three companion books written for charity, the series has sold over 500 million copies, been translated into 80 languages, and made into eight blockbuster films. Rowling is one of the most successful and influential writers of all time.

However, Rowling did not become a best-selling author overnight. She had been writing stories since she was six years old. She had the idea for Harry Potter in 1990, but it took her seven years to finish the first book. During that time, she faced many personal and financial difficulties, such as the death of her mother, a divorce, and living on welfare as a single mother. She also faced many rejections from publishers and agents before she finally got a deal with Bloomsbury. She did not give up on her dream of writing, even when it seemed hopeless. She persevered and worked hard to create a magical world that captivated millions of readers.

Why does it matter?

The myth of overnight success can be harmful for several reasons. First, it can create unrealistic expectations and pressure for aspiring entrepreneurs, artists, or performers who want to achieve their goals. They may think that they have to succeed quickly or else they are failures. They may compare themselves to others who seem to have made it big without much effort. They may lose motivation or confidence when they encounter obstacles or setbacks. They may miss out on the joy and satisfaction of learning and improving their craft.

Second, it can diminish the value and respect for the process of success. It can make us forget that behind any remarkable achievement, there is a story of struggle, resilience, and growth. It can make us overlook the lessons and insights that come from overcoming challenges and failures. It can make us ignore the importance of habits, routines, and systems that enable consistent action and progress. It can make us take for granted the support and guidance of mentors, peers, and communities that help us along the way.

Third, it can deprive us of the opportunity to celebrate and appreciate the success of others. It can make us cynical or envious of those who have achieved something great. It can make us dismiss their hard work and dedication as luck or coincidence. It can make us blind to the inspiration and wisdom that they can offer us. It can make us miss the chance to connect with them and learn from them.

Overnight success is a myth that does not reflect the reality of what it takes to succeed in any field or endeavor. Success is not something that happens suddenly or easily. It is something that requires years of hard work, persistence, and learning. It is something that involves many failures, setbacks, and challenges along the way. It is something that depends on habits, systems, and support networks that enable consistent action and progress.

We should not fall for the myth of overnight success. We should not expect it or demand it from ourselves or others. We should not let it discourage us or distract us from our goals. We should not let it undermine our respect and appreciation for the process of success.

Instead, we should embrace the reality of overnight success. We should acknowledge and celebrate the hard work and persistence that underlie any remarkable achievement. We should learn from the failures and setbacks that are inevitable in any journey to success. We should leverage the habits, systems, and support networks that help us take effective action and make progress.

We should also be inspired by the stories of those who have achieved something great in their fields or industries. We should not see them as overnight successes who had it easy or lucky. We should see them as role models who had a vision and pursued it with passion and perseverance. We should see them as mentors who can teach us valuable lessons and insights about success. We should see them as peers who can connect with us and support us in our own quests for success.

Success is not something that happens overnight. It is something that happens over time with hard work and persistence.

About Steve Biko Wafula

Steve Biko is the CEO OF Soko Directory and the founder of Hidalgo Group of Companies. Steve is currently developing his career in law, finance, entrepreneurship and digital consultancy; and has been implementing consultancy assignments for client organizations comprising of trainings besides capacity building in entrepreneurial matters.He can be reached on: +254 20 510 1124 or Email: info@sokodirectory.com