October 14, 2009 284 Comments

What it Takes to Be an Overnight Success

I thought about the inanity of waking up at 5:45AM after going to bed around 12:45AM and not really falling asleep until closer to 3AM. I thought about what it means to me to be working so hard. I thought about WHY I’m working so hard. Somewhere in my head, I thought about every time in the last few months where someone said I was an overnight success or “but you’re Chris Brogan” and how silly that is when you realize all that I’ve been through and all that it took me to get there. Here’s a quick video:

(click here if you don’t see it>.)

We should talk about this. What are YOU doing to succeed? What would you tell the people who say that you make it look easy? Let’s talk about your overnight success, shall we?

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Definitely right, success doesn’t come easy. The question to answer: do you really want success? All this time you spend doing this, doing that, away from your family, without having time for hobbies etc. Is it worth it? Everyone must answer for himself I guess.
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Definitely right, success doesn’t come easy. The question to answer: do you really want success? All this time you spend doing this, doing that, away from your family, without having time for hobbies etc. Is it worth it? Everyone must answer for himself I guess.
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http://twitter.com/StewNoBS Stew Shaw

Chris, this excerpt from your REAL life is pretty touching and you’re showing us where the rubber really meets the road in laying the foundation for entrepreneurial success. Do I want to put in that sort of single-minded effort? Yes! Using yet a third metaphor, I’m hardly on my way to 1st base yet, but I know what’s NOT consuming my time. I’m so focused on what I know I have to do that I no longer watch any TV, not even the daily news. I used to spend a lot of time reading online newspapers; not any more. Thanks so much. I feel for all you guys/gals with young kids.

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These kind of post are always inspiring and I prefer to read quality content so
I happy to find many good point here in the post, writing is simply great, thank
you for the post

http://twitter.com/StewNoBS Stew Shaw

“…need to write a post telling us how the hell to get everything that needs to get done…” @garyvee has already done that, given us his secret method – plain old hustling thru the night, personally answering every incoming tweet and email. Approaching a million followers too! And he's already @ replied to little 'ol me.
You, and I, rightly wonder how these powerhouse guys do it with a young family. Again look at Gary's #1 rule – love your family, and we can see he does. There's a severe cost if you don't – see (via my twitter profile) a commentary blogpost I wrote about social media gurus and their failed marriages. Chris truly GETS social media, and I love his Overnight Success series. New to the internet community I salute his tireless work and am totally inspired by his incredible experience and wisdom that he passes on everywhere he goes.
http://twitter.com/StewNoBS Stew Shaw

The trouble with being an Established Successful Guy like Chris is that the whole world wants him at once. So he goes straight from a convention in Atlanta to Paris to deliver a 20 minute talk then straight back to the US to consult to his high end clients, and on and on. There's no chill time for a social media evangelist. Gary Vee's treading the same boards. Want to help them get more sleep? Step up and spread the same message.
http://twitter.com/StewNoBS Stew Shaw

“…need to write a post telling us how the hell to get everything that needs to get done…” @garyvee has already done that, given us his secret method – plain old hustling thru the night, personally answering every incoming tweet and email. Approaching a million followers too! And he's already @ replied to little 'ol me.
You, and I, rightly wonder how these powerhouse guys do it with a young family. Again look at Gary's #1 rule – love your family, and we can see he does. There's a severe cost if you don't – see (via my twitter profile) a commentary blogpost I wrote about social media gurus and their failed marriages. Chris truly GETS social media, and I love his Overnight Success series. New to the internet community I salute his tireless work and am totally inspired by his incredible experience and wisdom that he passes on everywhere he goes.
http://twitter.com/StewNoBS Stew Shaw

The trouble with being an Established Successful Guy like Chris is that the whole world wants him at once. So he goes straight from a convention in Atlanta to Paris to deliver a 20 minute talk then straight back to the US to consult to his high end clients, and on and on. There's no chill time for a social media evangelist. Gary Vee's treading the same boards. Want to help them get more sleep? Step up and spread the same message.
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http://getoutofdebt.org/ Steve

Oh how true it is.
http://www.literarynobody.com/ Literary Nobody

That was brilliant and so well stated. Thank you for bringing to light that it takes hardwork to get there. It really inspired me not just in blogging but also in life.
marryroy01

Although one of these days you and Gary Vee and everyone out there who can be everywhere at once need to write a post telling us how the hell to get everything that needs to get done to be a Trust Agent and Crush it while not having your wife shoot you and be there for your kids :). I've said it once, I'll say it again.

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Inxxu

Chris!
I absolutely agree with you..overnight success do not sleep and wach lot´s of TV…
Our dreams is what we must work on…and I mean REALLY work on…not dreaming about working on them :)

I wish everyone lots of overnight success!!!
Inga
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http://MindOfChampions.com/ Shawn

Hey Chris, I really enjoyed your “Overnight Success” series. So it seems that overnight success IS achievable provided a person puts in enough “overnight” day in and day out effort. Hmmm… I'm starting to see a trend here.

I especially like the “Overnight Success does not” list, of which I'd add, “Overnight Success doesn't resign, give up, or quit, but keeps moving forward while remembering the journey is more important than the actual destination.”

All the best in your overnight journey!
~Shawn
http://MindOfChampions.com/ Shawn

Hey Chris, I really enjoyed your “Overnight Success” series. So it seems that overnight success IS achievable provided a person puts in enough “overnight” day in and day out effort. Hmm… I'm starting to see a trend here.

I especially like the “Overnight Success does not” list, of which I'd add, “Overnight Success doesn't resign, give up, or quit, but keeps moving forward while remembering the journey is more important than the actual destination.”

I'm reminded of a quote by Viktor Frankl in his book Man's Search For Meaning-
“Don't aim at success – the more you aim at it and make it a target, the more you are going to miss it. For success, like happiness, cannot be pursued; it must ensue… as the unintended side-effect of one's personal dedication to a course greater than oneself.”

All the best in your overnight journey!
~Shawn
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Effective communication can really go a long way, you are one lucky man Chris!
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i always love to write your post, keep sharingg..
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This post really hit home. People ask me how often I got 45K + Twitter followers so quickly and I tell them that I first suggested the user list about 2 quality content and consistently building community, which for years full-time tweeting on Twitter was being raised at is. No shortcuts. Work, commitment, purpose, and is essential for stability. And once you do that success, keep and maintain it there, a whole other post:)

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What it Takes to Be an Overnight Success

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