What makes a star? Is it the twinkle of innate talent? The serendipitous touch of a lucky break? Or the quiet grind of years spent laboring in obscurity? If you’ve ever rooted for the underdog—or been one yourself—you know the truth: a star is simply someone who refused to give up, long enough to let persistence, skill, and luck weave their unpredictable magic.
Take the case of Lucille Ball. Long before she became the queen of comedy on I Love Lucy, Ball was dismissed as a forgettable B-movie actress. Directors told her she didn’t have the looks or the spark to make it in Hollywood. She could have listened. She could have given up. But instead, she leaned into the craft, honed her comedic timing, and surrounded herself with people who believed in her. When luck finally knocked—her willingness to star alongside her husband, Desi Arnaz, in an untested sitcom—she was ready. The result? A cultural phenomenon that redefined television.
It might also surprise you to learn that Beyonce, Justin Timberlake, Alanis Morissette, Usher, Christina Aguilera, and Britney Spears failed and where overlooked at first. Obviously, each persisted.
Persistence: The Unromantic Ingredient of Stardom
Let’s not kid ourselves—persistence is neither glamorous nor fun. It’s waking up one more day to pursue a dream that feels light-years away. It’s handling rejection with enough grace to keep showing up. Persistence is the rock climber’s handhold: unyielding, unremarkable, and absolutely vital.
As a coach, I’ve seen it play out in the lives of countless achievers. One executive I worked with was turned down for a coveted CEO role four times in five years. Each rejection stung, but he never let it sour his belief in himself. Instead, he sharpened his skills, built relationships, and studied the nuances of leadership. On the fifth try, the board unanimously handed him the keys to the corner office. Luck? Sure. But it wouldn’t have mattered without his unrelenting commitment to persistence.
Skill: The Long Road to Mastery
Here’s the thing about skill: it doesn’t shout. It whispers. It whispers as you practice scales on the piano when no one’s listening. It whispers as you write draft after draft of that novel or perfect your sales pitch for the 19th time. Skill isn’t about being the best from day one; it’s about being willing to improve every single day.
One of my favorite stories comes from Steven Spielberg. Rejected from USC’s prestigious film school three times, Spielberg could have taken the hint. Instead, he honed his craft, shooting short films with a tenacity that bordered on obsession. By the time Universal Studios noticed his work, he didn’t just have potential—he had proof. His skill met opportunity, and the rest, as they say, is cinematic history.
Luck: The Most Misunderstood Player
Ah, luck. That maddeningly elusive spark that no one can fully control. Here’s the secret: luck isn’t as random as it seems. It favors the prepared, the curious, and those who keep showing up. It’s not just about being in the right place at the right time—it’s about being the right person when that time comes.
Consider Oprah Winfrey, who faced a rocky start to her television career. She was demoted from her first news anchor job because producers believed she was “too emotional.” It could have been the end of the story, but Oprah’s persistence and skill kept her in the industry. Then came her lucky break: a local talk show that she transformed into a ratings juggernaut. The rest is history. Luck didn’t just find Oprah; she met it halfway.
The Alchemy of Time
If there’s a final ingredient in this recipe, it’s time. Persistence, skill, and luck aren’t magic bullets—they’re seeds. And seeds need time to grow. Most overnight successes are decades in the making, their roots buried deep in years of invisible effort.
The key is to stay in the game long enough for all three forces to converge. It’s not easy, and it’s not guaranteed. But those who do—who play the long game with grit and grace—stand a far better chance of becoming the stars they were meant to be.
Your Turn
So, what about you? Maybe you’re at the beginning of your journey, wondering if you’ve got what it takes. Or maybe you’ve been at it for years, feeling stuck in the weeds of frustration. Wherever you are, take heart. Every star you admire today was once someone like you—fighting self-doubt, facing rejection, and dreaming against the odds.
Keep going. Hone your craft. Look for moments of serendipity. And when your luck comes, don’t just take it. Run with it.
After all, stars aren’t born; they’re made. And you’ve got all the ingredients you need to make one.
Bob Fagan has just published “The Little Book of Questions That Matter — A Lifetime Companion For Transforming Your Life.” It is available on Amazon.
