The
business marketplace is littered with so-called "overnight success"
stories. Because we live in a microwave society, we want everything fast.
We
want to lose weight in a weekend by taking a pill. We want to download
everything in a blink of an eye. And we certainly don't want to wait for
success.
Here
are some truths about the overnight success phenomenon that you should think
about the next time you hear one of these stories.
It is the exception, not the
rule.
Do
you seethe with envy every time you read about an overnight success story? One
of the most popular is how Roxio, the makers of the app sensation Angry Birds
went from zero to hero overnight.
Yes,
it was a great success story and they probably never have to develop another
game (but they will). However, the truth is Angry Birds was the 53rd game that
this company created. That would be 52 other games that went through
development, testing, marketing, implementation and lackluster sales.
Overnight
success? Hardly.
Sure,
a company can get fast results and see their profits soar in a short amount of
time, but for the majority of businesses success can't be rushed.
You're
hearing the hype.
It looks good for a company to promote
themselves as an overnight sensation because we all like a winning story. It
also makes for good press to have the Cinderella syndrome play out of someone
being plucked from obscurity and plopped down in their dream life.
However, a little digging will reveal the
truth behind the hype. Even the simple act of filing corporation papers takes
time.
The reality is that a company's success is
often built on a lot of past failures. Those failures might not all be related
to that company but you can bet the board of director, the developers and the
sales staff have had years of experience in the business world that lead them
to this point in their careers.
In fact, if someone has worked for just
five years prior to starting that company, they are bringing close to 10,000
hours of experience. So, any time you hear a story about an overnight success
just ask yourself, "What are they leaving out?"
Being
number one could blow up your company.
Under the heading "be careful what you
wish for" comes the notion that a true overnight success might actually
blow up your company. Imagine the potential success of a Super Bowl commercial.
Not only will literally a hundred million
people see that spot play out but it could also go viral, bringing in millions
of more viewers. If that business isn't ready for the onslaught of potential
customers then their website could crash, their staff will revolt and they'll
lose a lot of business.
Planning for success is just that:
"planning."
That should mean being ready when it
finally arrives.
