Does it take 25 years to become an Overnight Success? Is it luck? Timing? Or A Miracle?
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People often ask me when my “big break” came in my career. It’s a funny question because there never has been “one”. I think a great deal of the public believes that brands or companies or individuals get lucky and hit it big in a day or a magical moment. The fact is, getting airborne is more about small drops in a bucket amounting to a lot over time. I don’t know if I’ve ever see it all happen at once. Good things take time.
You have to admit, the term “startup” has never been more famous. Sites like kick-starter are gaining momentum as they help individuals fuel a dream or an idea. Never before has there been an easier way for people to get their idea seen, heard and fueled than this age. Technology is really powerful for ideas.
Wen I started my business on my bike as a teenager there were no cell phones. If you wanted a message to get out you placed an ad in a newspaper, magazine or radio. You printed actual invitations or postcards and placed a stamp on it. Or, you went to the people literally and talked to them.
The last 26 years of my career were relationship after relationship being connected and word of mouth traveling to the next person. It was all built on testimony and shared experience. Whether I painted a mural or a painting my business was built through shared testimonies.
The world advertises: “The harder you work the luckier you get.” I totally disagree. It’s not about luck and the “right time at the right place”. My experience is much different. Looking back I can see that my life has been totally a series of miracles. Today that same thing is true. I go to events and release products I have no idea how they will be received. I step out in faith to make the product, step out in faith to take risks on the process of production, faith on new ideas, faith on spending money to market and faith for whether it will sell or not. They key for me isn’t the success of the product. It the success and significance of the process. Am I holding it all loosely? Am I grateful the whole way through? Am I surrendered and “all in” knowing God cares for me and has my best interest at heart? If I stay in this pocket, I create, live and thrive in my gifting. My wife and kids benefit because the success or outcomes aren’t based on my manipulation. The results are Gods. My job is to create and get it to light in the best fashion possible. Then leave the rest up to God to handle.
I read stories about the lives of Walt Disney, Steve Jobs, Thomas Edison and George Lucas. Their stories didn’t unfold over night. It appears they are overnight success stories but if you were to ask them the history they would tell you they were no where near being finished, had not peaked and it all took a lifetime of investing into their craft. One drop in the bucket at a time. one risk, one failure and one victory at a time.
When I look at the commonalities of the great creatives I read above I notice they all failed massively and all reaped major reward. However, the biggest attribute of these creatives is that they never gave up. They stayed the course. They never gave up. Thomas Edison failed at making a light bulb over 9,000 times. I wonder how I would have felt at the 1500th failure?
This principle goes for every area in life: As a parent, a diet, physical training etc. It happens little by little over time. You don’t walk into a gym one time and walk out buff!
How do manage your thoughts about yourself in this area? Do you believe success happens overnight?
Please post, forward and share this post with others. Even more, leave a comment below and share in the conversation to help encourage others. We are in this life together!
Have a blessed week!
Recent comments
Joe Jimenez 10 years ago
So true! In music for example, we hear someone play an instrument really well and don’t quite realize the amount of time and effort that went into getting to that level. It is amazing how many of us expect to be good at something without first willing to learn it and be willing to put in the time to practice it and get better at it. As they say, the key to success is repetition. (I repeat… The key to success is repetition…. The key to success is repetition… LOL)
Thanks Noah… Great post!
God Bless.
noah fine art 10 years ago
Thanks Joe! Great example with musicianship. So true.
Angie Daley 10 years ago
Thanks Noah! So inspiring, especially when wanting to give up and move on. I am an Artist and I have always thought it was about the “big break to come” like every morning when I check my email, the big one will be there in my inbox. I paint everyday, even when I say I give up… because truly no matter now many times I walk away, I can’t help myself, it’s just a natural urge every morning LOL.
So thank you!!
p.s. I popped by your booth at D23 2011 but you had stepped away for a bit, sorry I missed you. I did altho have a piece up in the House of DeVIl (a very proud moment of mine) and waiting for that email in my inbox telling me I am in D23 2013! So maybe I will see you this year.
Again thanks for this message and for your motivation!
noah fine art 10 years ago
Great Angie! Glad you keep at it and share your talent with the world. Keep it going! Appreciate you being here and contributing.
Jay 10 years ago
I agree completely. I feel in my case as a creative that I may have wasted a good chunk of my life as a young man. I hope now that I am a bit older and wiser that I can achieve my goals. I also worry about I may have missed my opportunity. Hopefully hard work and a geographic change make my dreams I have for myself and my family come to reality. Thanks Noah for your posts you are a true inspiration.
noah fine art 10 years ago
Jay, you can donut buddy. It’s never too late. If your passion is there it cannot be ignored. Stay on it and keep it rolling. The world needs to see your gift. Keep us posted. Glad you’re here!
stefaan 10 years ago
all very true, but to fuel ones ideas or dreams it often takes more than talent, hard work and the right geographic location. How about having the money to been able to make the dream come true. I’m 46 years old and have worked since I was 16 untill I had a major back operation at the age of 40 which forced me to quit my day job and build my hobby into a fulltime busyness.
the fact that people want me to paint there stuff and others take airbrush classes at my studio makes me not consider myself a total feailure, but never the less it is still an everyday strugle to make a living out of my busyness. and would it be for my wife having a well paid job I simply wouldn’t be able to make it or keep doing what I’m doing today. so having or making the money to meantain chassing succes and filling that bucket drop by drop is a hard strugle.
I admire your work aswell as your succes and your effort to inspire others, thank you for that. looking forward to meet you in september. Stefaan Mees (Belgium)
noah fine art 10 years ago
Stefan, great words. Appreciate you being here and being a part of it. Keep it rolling.
Megan Clark 9 years ago
This post is a true inspiration for me as a young artist. I am a 20 year old gal who has always been told that artists can never be successful. I have to admit I bought into the starving artist profile for most of my life, but now things are changing. With artists like you, Glenn Arthur, Olivia De Berardinis, I can see that creativity and drive can get you somewhere. After listening to your interview, I got off by butt, created a portfolio, website, and made up some business cards. My artwork isn’t exactly paying the bills right now, but I’m hopeful! Thank you dearly for your inspiration!
noah fine art 9 years ago
Megan, thanks for the words. Proud of you for taking risks and getting it out there. You have a story to tell. The world needs to hear it. Keep it rolling.