Learn in Public, It’s Great: Absolute Success is Luck. Relative Success is Hard Work.

Learn in Public, It’s Great: Absolute Success is Luck. Relative Success is Hard Work.

In the world of learning, hustling, and creating, there's a division in the approach: do in silence or show the process and progress publicly. While some advocate for keeping your work under wraps until it's polished and complete, others believe that sharing your journey can bring numerous benefits. Learning in public not only creates accountability but also establishes a feedback loop and allows you to see your progress. Additionally, it helps in building a community and following, which can have future value in terms of connecting with others and showcasing your work.

Austin Kleon, in his book "Show Your Work!", emphasizes the importance of letting go of our ego and sharing our creative process. By doing so, we open ourselves up to the possibility of people having an ongoing connection with us and our work. This connection can propel us forward and help us move closer to our goals.

Journalist David Carr echoes this sentiment when he advises students to focus on creating rather than building an impressive resume. He emphasizes the significance of making things with our own hands and showcasing our skills and talents. In essence, if you want to be noticed and appreciated, you have to create something that captivates others.

The notion of "being so good they can't ignore you" is also relevant in this context. Martin, the author of "So Good They Can't Ignore You," argues that by solely focusing on improving your skills and becoming exceptional at what you do, people will naturally gravitate towards you. Instead of actively seeking an audience for your work, they will find you because of the value and quality you bring.

But what about success? Is it all just luck, or does hard work play a role? Tu Youyou's story provides a brilliant example of how hard work can lead to extraordinary success. Tu, without a postgraduate degree, research experience abroad, or memberships in prestigious academies, made groundbreaking contributions to medical science. Her persistence, diligence, and unwavering drive helped save millions of lives through her discovery of the artemisinin treatment for malaria.

While luck may play a significant role in absolute success, hard work becomes more crucial in a relative sense. Nassim Taleb, in his book "Fooled by Randomness," explains that mild success can often be attributed to skills and labor, but wild success is a result of variance and extreme circumstances. When comparing yourself to others who have experienced similar levels of luck, the difference lies in your habits and choices. Your trajectory and the choices you make determine your success more than your initial starting point.

Richard Hamming, a mathematician and computer engineer, beautifully summarizes the relationship between luck and hard work. He states that luck plays a part in finding something important to work on, but the act of doing something is not luck. The person who works hard, pursues opportunities, and tries more things is more likely to stumble upon a lucky break than the person who waits passively.

In conclusion, learning in public can be a powerful tool for growth and progress. By sharing your journey, you create accountability, establish a feedback loop, and build a community. While luck may contribute to absolute success, hard work becomes increasingly significant in a relative sense. Success is not solely determined by luck but by the habits, choices, and opportunities we seize. So, if you want to increase your chances of success, here are three actionable pieces of advice:

1. Embrace vulnerability and share your process and progress with others. Not only does this create accountability, but it also allows for valuable feedback and support from a community that can propel you forward.

2. Focus on honing your skills and becoming exceptional at what you do. By continuously improving and striving for greatness, you increase your chances of being noticed and appreciated by others.

3. Don't wait for luck to come knocking on your door. Actively seek out opportunities and try new things. The more you put yourself out there, the greater the chances of stumbling upon a lucky break.

Remember, success is a combination of luck and hard work. While luck may be beyond our control, we have the power to work hard, pursue opportunities, and create our own luck. So, learn in public, embrace hard work, and watch as your journey unfolds towards success.