[Insight & Opinion] Increase the Probability That Someone Will Discover You

Success Is Hard with Talent Alone
Persistent Exploration Increases Chances of Luck
Don't Stay in Your Comfort Zone
Expose Yourself to Diverse Opportunities

Sometimes I hear stories like this: "That person is a master in the underground scene but it's unfortunate they never became famous." "That book is really good, but it doesn't sell well." "That friend is really good at their job, but their career just doesn't take off."

Laszlo Barabasi's team, physicists who study success mathematically, collected career data of about 490,000 painters. They checked where each painter exhibited their works and at what price they sold.

The study found that painters who exhibited at prestigious museums such as the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Guggenheim Museum, and the Gagosian Gallery had a 39% probability of continuing their artistic activities after 10 years, with an average highest price of $190,000. In contrast, painters who did not exhibit at such venues had only a 14% continuation probability and an average highest price of $40,000.

The researchers discovered that the biggest factor leading to a painter's success was exhibiting at top-tier galleries or museums. Once a painter exhibited at a top gallery or museum, the likelihood of exhibiting at other top galleries was also very high. Ultimately, exhibiting works at major galleries or museums guarantees a superstar status in the art world.

So, which painters get to exhibit at top galleries? The researchers categorized painters into two groups based on their past careers: those who exhibited repeatedly at the same gallery, and those who exhibited at various galleries around the world, even if they were not famous. The conclusion was that painters in the latter category were more than six times more likely to exhibit at top galleries.

The research team's conclusion was this: "The secret to gaining luck is to persistently and tenaciously explore from the beginning. Talent alone is not enough. Increase the chances that someone will discover you."

Although there was little difference in skill and quality of work initially, painters who persistently and tenaciously contacted various places to spread their work had a greater chance of encountering luck. On the other hand, painters who consistently stayed on the fringes moved further away from luck.

Recently, a famous lecturer came to our company and boasted that his book became a bestseller. He said that data analysis showed the key secret was appearing on a few very famous YouTube channels. Of course, not everyone who appears there becomes a famous author, but it certainly increases the probability of being discovered. What does it take to be invited to appear on famous broadcasts or YouTube? Naturally, the more you expose yourself in various places, the more advantageous it is.

The researchers say this conclusion applies not only to painters but also to other industries. If a competent and influential person does not lead you, it is difficult to climb the ladder of success. Even if you are competent, if you do not work at a growing and successful company, it is hard to build a great career. Even if you have excellent insights, if you are not known, you will only be famous inside a well.

If you want to succeed, explore and expand persistently and tenaciously. Do not stay only in your comfortable space. Connect with key hubs. Increase the chances that someone will discover you.

Of course, if you do not consider becoming famous or accumulating wealth as success, or if you do not particularly want luck, you may not need to do this.

However, one thing is clear: luck does not come suddenly while you are still. Luck comes closer when you move persistently and tenaciously.

Soojung Shin, Head of KT Enterprise Division