Intro
In this episode of the “Hidden Brain Podcast”, host Shankar Vedantam explores the psychology of creativity and success by examining the stories of successful individuals. He delves into the lives of two filmmakers, George Lucas and Robert Zemeckis, and their paths to success in the film industry. Through their stories, he uncovers the factors that contribute to sustained success and the challenges faced by creators in maintaining their careers.
Main Takeaways
Success in Creative Industries
- Success is distributed unevenly in many fields, with a handful of superstars accounting for a disproportionate amount of accomplishments.
- Luck and talent seem like incomplete explanations for why some individuals achieve sustained success while others do not.
- There are performers, creators, and innovators who seem to have an instinct for greatness.
The Stories of George Lucas and Robert Zemeckis
- George Lucas wanted to build a franchise around Star Wars but didn’t want to direct the sequel himself.
- Irvin Kirschner, a professor at USC, was asked to direct The Empire Strikes Back, but he initially thought Star Wars was terrible.
- The Empire Strikes Back was a hit and became the highest-grossing film in 1980, earning over $400 million worldwide.
- Robert Zemeckis struggled to find work in Hollywood and faced rejection for his family time travel movie script.
- Zemeckis was fired as the director of Cocoon but found success with the romantic jungle adventure comedy, Romancing the Stone.
- Romancing the Stone’s success allowed Zemeckis to pitch and make Back to the Future, which became a hit.
- Back to the Future is a sci-fi, romantic comedy, and action adventure rolled into one, and is considered by some to be a perfect movie.
The Challenges of Sustained Success
- Success in creative industries is less predictable and more difficult to sustain due to high competition and pace of change.
- Getting noticed and sustaining success are two different challenges, and the very thing that helps you get past the first obstacle makes it harder to get past the second.
- Justin Berg’s research on the music industry found that sustained success is rare, with only a small number of musicians generating hit after hit, while most are one-hit wonders.
- Highly successful creators produce more content, which increases their odds of having hits and sustaining long careers with hits.
- Cumulative advantage is the idea that once you have a lot of success, you can build on it to create an even bigger mountain of success.
The Role of Novelty and Variety
- Novelty is a negative predictor of initial success.
- Creators with typical portfolios are more likely to have an initial hit.
- Novelty is risky for producing a hit, but a huge advantage for sustained success.
- Creators with initial hits from a novel portfolio are more likely to have additional hits.
- Musicians and movie makers who have sustained success are able to evolve with the tastes of their audience.
- Variety is a way to offset some of the trade-off with novelty.
- Trying lots of different new things can increase the odds of initial success.
The Importance of Trying New Things
- Trying new things decreases the odds of initial success, but trying lots of different new things can increase the odds of initial success.
- “The more things you try, the more likely you are to find something that works,” says economist David Gal.
- The fear of failure can prevent people from trying new things, but it’s important to remember that failure is a natural part of the learning process.
- Embrace the process of learning and trying new things, and don’t be discouraged by initial failures.
Summary
Success in Creative Industries
Success in creative industries is often distributed unevenly, with a few individuals achieving disproportionate accomplishments. While luck and talent play a role, there are performers, creators, and innovators who seem to have an instinct for greatness.
The Stories of George Lucas and Robert Zemeckis
The stories of George Lucas and Robert Zemeckis highlight the unpredictable nature of success in the film industry. George Lucas’s decision to build a franchise around Star Wars led to the success of The Empire Strikes Back, while Robert Zemeckis faced rejection before finding success with Romancing the Stone and Back to the Future.
The Challenges of Sustained Success
Sustained success in creative industries is rare and difficult to achieve. Getting noticed and sustaining success are two different challenges, and the very thing that helps creators overcome the first obstacle can make it harder to overcome the second. Highly successful creators produce more content, increasing their odds of having hits and sustaining long careers.
The Role of Novelty and Variety
Novelty is a double-edged sword in creative industries. While novelty is a negative predictor of initial success, it is a huge advantage for sustained success. Creators with initial hits from a novel portfolio are more likely to have additional hits. The ability to evolve with the tastes of the audience and incorporate variety can help creators sustain success over time.
The Importance of Trying New Things
Trying new things is essential for creators, even though it decreases the odds of initial success. By trying lots of different new things, creators increase their chances of finding something that works. Embracing the process of learning and being open to failure is crucial for long-term success.
Conclusion
The stories of George Lucas and Robert Zemeckis illustrate the complex factors that contribute to success in creative industries. While luck and talent are important, sustained success requires adaptability, perseverance, and a willingness to try new things. By understanding the challenges and strategies of successful creators, we can gain insights into our own paths to success.
