Curious about the secret recipe for success? Wondering if it's about performance, networks or just plain luck? How did Jean-Michel Basquiat's connections catapult him to fame? What role did networks play in Marcel Duchamp's 'Fountain' gaining critical recognition? Dive into this gripping narrative that explores the intriguing interplay of performance, networks and persistence in defining success.

The Formula: The Universal Laws of Success

Success is often thought to be driven by performance, but when performance can't be measured, networks play a crucial role. Take, for instance, the story of Dániel, a bright and hardworking student who faced unexpected challenges during his college admissions. Despite his stellar academic record and extracurricular achievements, he learned that success in college admissions also depended on factors like unique life experiences and strong recommendations, not just performance.

This concept can be illustrated through sports, where performance is measurable. Burcu Yucesoy's research on tennis players revealed a clear link between athletic performance and success, as measured by points and rankings. However, when performance metrics are unavailable, networks become vital.

Consider the art world. Jean-Michel Basquiat and Al Diaz started similarly, both involved in graffiti art as SAMO. Yet, Basquiat's networking skills propelled him to fame and fortune, while Diaz remained relatively obscure. Basquiat's success wasn't solely based on the quality of his art but on his ability to connect with influential figures like Andy Warhol and Keith Haring.

Marcel Duchamp's Fountain, a repurposed urinal, challenges the traditional notions of art. Its value wasn't in its craftsmanship but in the network of curators and critics who recognized its significance. Similarly, the value of Rembrandt's Man with the Golden Helmet plummeted when it was attributed to an unknown artist, showing how networks shape perception and worth.

In the art world, networks determine success. Artists associated with high-prestige galleries and museums thrive, while those in lesser-known galleries struggle. Success isn't about geography but about connecting with the right people. This idea extends beyond art; in many fields, success depends on our networks and the opportunities they provide.

For example, two Princeton economists found that the long-term success of college graduates isn't determined by the prestige of their alma mater but by their ambition and performance. Students who applied to elite schools but attended less prestigious ones still achieved similar success.

In short, while performance drives success in measurable fields like sports, networks are crucial when performance can't be easily assessed. Building and leveraging networks can open doors and create opportunities, ultimately shaping our success in various realms.

First Law: Can Networking Outshine Talent in the Quest for Success?

Imagine you're in a wine tasting room, pristine glasses glimmering under fluorescents. Judges swirl, sniff, and sip anonymously poured wines, trying to discern the best. 

Bob Hodgson, a retired oceanographer and vineyard owner, found this process flawed. His Zinfandel won gold in one competition but was dismissed in another, sparking his curiosity. He conducted an experiment at the California State Fair Wine Competition, revealing that judges' scores for the same wine varied wildly. This inconsistency highlighted that performance, even among experts, is often random.

In sports, the same principle applies. Usain Bolt, the fastest man on earth, edges out competitors by mere fractions of a second, showing that even at the highest levels, performance differences are minuscule. Researcher Filippo Radicchi predicted Olympic records with uncanny accuracy, reaffirming that human performance is bounded.

Now, consider Tiger Woods. Despite his bounded performance, his success is limitless. He became the first athlete to earn over a billion dollars, thanks in part to endorsements. This disparity between performance and success is common among superstars, whether they're athletes, actors, or musicians. Their slight edge translates into massive rewards, a phenomenon driven by what economists call a power law.

Steven Weinberg, a Nobel Prize-winning physicist, exemplifies this. His scientific impact, measured in citations, is astronomical, showing how success in academia, like wealth, follows a power law. While his salary doesn't match that of top business executives, his influence in science is unbounded.

Interestingly, competing against superstars can hinder performance. Economists like Jennifer Brown found that top golfers performed worse when Tiger Woods was present. This "Tiger Woods effect" suggests that the presence of superstars can psychologically intimidate their closest competitors.

However, collaborating with superstars can boost productivity. When universities hire top scientists, departmental output increases significantly, benefiting from the superstar's insights and attracting new talent.

In essence, while performance has its limits, success knows no bounds. The key is understanding the dynamics of competition and collaboration, leveraging opportunities to stand out and align with those who can elevate our game.

Second Law: Unbounded Success- Insights from Usain Bolt, Tiger Woods, and Nobel Laureate Steven Weinberg

Success is governed by the Third Law: previous success multiplied by fitness equals future success. This principle, known as preferential attachment, explains why success breeds more success across various fields. 

Elan Lee experienced this firsthand with his card game, Exploding Kittens. When Lee, along with Matthew Inman and Shane Small, launched a Kickstarter campaign, they hoped to raise $10,000. To their astonishment, they hit their goal in just eight minutes and eventually amassed $8.8 million from over 200,000 backers. This phenomenal success wasn't just luck; it was fueled by Inman's already massive fan base, proving that previous success significantly boosts future endeavors.

However, not all Kickstarter projects share this fate. Arnout van de Rijt's experiment demonstrated that even a small initial donation can double a project's chances of attracting further funds. This phenomenon, preferential attachment, shows that initial success can snowball into greater achievements. 

This principle extends beyond crowdfunding. For instance, early recognition in a competitive field, such as Wikipedia editors receiving Barnstars, can lead to increased productivity and further accolades. The same dynamic applies in music competitions, where early visibility can kick-start a musician's career.

Preferential attachment also affects our daily choices, from which petitions we sign to which products we buy based on online reviews. Sinan Aral's research on up-votes and down-votes on a news aggregation site revealed that success begets success, but fortunately, negative feedback doesn't necessarily lead to a downward spiral.

Even in education, preferential attachment plays a role. Students labeled as "gifted" based on random selection performed better due to teachers' higher expectations, illustrating a self-fulfilling prophecy.

While preferential attachment can elevate even mediocre offerings, exceptional quality can still rise above. The MusicLab experiment showed that despite social influence, a truly excellent song could climb the ranks, demonstrating the Third Law in action: previous success combined with fitness determines future success.

This principle explains why latecomers like Google and Ben & Jerry's can outshine established competitors through superior offerings. By understanding and leveraging preferential attachment, we can better navigate and influence success in various aspects of life.

Third Law: How Did Exploding Kittens and Ben & Jerry's Use Preferential Attachment to Dominate Their Fields?

Ever wondered why one person often gets all the credit for a team's success? It's a phenomenon seen everywhere, from jazz to Broadway, and even in scientific research. 

Take the legendary Miles Davis and his iconic album, "Kind of Blue," recorded in 1959 with a unique ensemble of musicians. They met briefly, had minimal instructions, and then created magic. Davis’s leadership, allowing space for improvisation within a structured framework, made "Kind of Blue" a timeless masterpiece.

Brian Uzzi, a professor at the Kellogg School of Management, studies team dynamics and creativity. His research on Broadway musicals revealed that success depends on a balanced mix of key collaborators, not just the stars. A team with just the right blend of innovation and convention can create a hit, as seen with "Carousel" by Rodgers and Hammerstein.

Similarly, in jazz, diversity among musicians contributes to an album's success. Sociologist Balázs Vedres found that the most successful jazz albums involved diverse contributors, yet with some overlapping experiences. This balance of familiarity and novelty is crucial across fields, from video games to scientific research.

Leadership, however, plays a pivotal role. Jim Bagrow’s research on GitHub showed that successful projects often have a dominant leader who does the majority of the work. This dynamic is seen even in Wikipedia contributions and high school biology projects.

But too much leadership can backfire, as demonstrated by William Muir's super chicken experiment. His "superstar" hens, selected for their individual productivity, ended up in conflict, reducing overall productivity. This mirrors real-world scenarios, like Duke University’s English department's downfall due to too many high-profile hires clashing.

Collective intelligence studies show that successful teams communicate well, share ideas equally, and include diverse perspectives. Sandy Pentland’s research in a call center highlighted that informal face-to-face communication significantly boosts team performance.

In essence, successful teams need a visionary leader and a diverse, communicative group. The story of Douglas Prasher, who cloned the GFP gene but didn’t receive the Nobel Prize, underscores the importance of being recognized for one's contributions. His work was crucial, but the credit went to those who continued building on his discovery.

Understanding how credit is allocated in teamwork can help us navigate and claim our rightful recognition. Whether you're working in science, business, or the arts, ensuring that your contributions are visible and valued is key to achieving success. So, take charge, collaborate effectively, and don’t shy away from the spotlight when it's your turn to shine.

Fourth Law: The Unseen Power of Collaborative Genius

Persistence can lead to success at any time, even after retirement. This is illustrated by Nobel-winning research conducted later in life, defying the notion that innovation is a young person’s game. Notable examples include Einstein and Dirac, who made significant contributions early in their careers. However, studies show that creativity has no age limit, and breakthroughs can occur at any point, provided one remains productive and persistent.

For example, John Fenn published groundbreaking work on electrospray ionization in his late sixties, leading to a Nobel Prize in Chemistry at eighty-five. This underscores that while productivity often peaks early, continued effort and persistence can yield significant late-career success.

Research by Roberta Sinatra and colleagues revealed that the likelihood of publishing influential work remains consistent throughout a scientist's career, contradicting the belief that early career peaks are due to superior creativity. Instead, early success is often due to higher productivity. Each project has the same potential for breakthrough, likened to buying lottery tickets—the more tickets (projects), the higher the chances of success.

The concept of the Q-factor, representing an individual's ability to turn ideas into successful outcomes, plays a crucial role in achieving breakthroughs. High Q-factor individuals, like Steve Jobs, consistently produce impactful work despite some failures. Conversely, those with lower Q-factors may struggle.

Einstein’s fame, boosted by an accidental connection to a Zionist delegation, and his continued contributions, such as his late-career work on quantum entanglement, highlight that success can emerge from persistence and leveraging one’s Q-factor.

Ultimately, the Fifth Law of Success emphasizes that with persistence, success can come at any time. Whether through consistent productivity, collaboration, or leveraging networks, the key is to keep trying. This approach, combined with understanding and applying the Q-factor, can lead to sustained success throughout one’s career.

Fifth Law: Can Persistence Lead to a Nobel Prize Even After Retirement?

Success isn't just about performance; sometimes, it hinges on networks. Dániel, a stellar student, discovered this during his college admissions, where life experiences and recommendations mattered as much as grades.

In sports, performance is clear-cut. Research by Burcu Yucesoy linked tennis success to rankings. But in fields where performance isn't easily measured, like art, networks are crucial. Jean-Michel Basquiat's connections with influential figures catapulted him to fame, unlike his peer Al Diaz. Marcel Duchamp's Fountain, a repurposed urinal, gained value through critical recognition, showing how networks shape perception.

Economists found that long-term success correlates with ambition and performance, regardless of alma mater prestige. In essence, when performance can't be quantified, networks open doors and create opportunities.

While performance is bounded, success can be limitless. Bob Hodgson's research on wine competitions revealed performance inconsistencies, and Usain Bolt's minuscule time advantages reflect bounded performance. Yet, Tiger Woods' immense success, driven by endorsements, exemplifies unbounded success. Collaboration with superstars can elevate productivity, while their presence can intimidate competitors.

Success often follows the Third Law: previous success multiplied by fitness equals future success. Elan Lee's Exploding Kittens Kickstarter campaign soared due to co-creator Matthew Inman's fan base. Preferential attachment, where initial success snowballs, applies across fields, from crowdfunding to education. Early recognition boosts future achievements, proving that success breeds success.

In teamwork, balanced collaboration is key. Miles Davis' "Kind of Blue" album succeeded through innovative team dynamics. Brian Uzzi's research on Broadway musicals and Balázs Vedres' findings on jazz albums highlight the importance of diverse yet familiar teams. Effective leadership and communication are crucial for success, as seen in GitHub projects and call centers.

Persistence and productivity can lead to success at any age. Nobel-winning research by John Fenn in his sixties and Roberta Sinatra's findings on consistent potential for breakthroughs throughout careers underscore this. The Q-factor, representing one's ability to achieve success, plays a significant role. Einstein's continued contributions exemplify leveraging one's Q-factor for sustained success.

In conclusion, success depends on understanding the interplay between performance, networks, and persistence. By building connections, maintaining productivity, and leveraging opportunities, one can achieve success in various fields.

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The Formula: The Universal Laws of Success

Albert-László Barabási

6 Key ideas

15 MINS

4.8 (245)

Curious about the secret recipe for success?

Wondering if it's about performance, networks or just plain luck?

How did Jean-Michel Basquiat's connections catapult him to fame?

What role did networks play in Marcel Duchamp's 'Fountain' gaining critical recognition?

Dive into this gripping narrative that explores the intriguing interplay of performance, networks and persistence in defining success.

Key Ideas

#1

First Law: Can Networking Outshine Talent in the Quest for Success?

#2

Second Law: Unbounded Success- Insights from Usain Bolt, Tiger Woods, and Nobel Laureate Steven Weinberg

#3

Third Law: How Did Exploding Kittens and Ben & Jerry's Use Preferential Attachment to Dominate Their Fields?

#4

Fourth Law: The Unseen Power of Collaborative Genius

#5

Fifth Law: Can Persistence Lead to a Nobel Prize Even After Retirement?

#6

Final Recap

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