Unlocking the Power Law: Why Success Is Wildly Unequal and What To Do About It

Economists once believed life was a bell curve—success would be more or less evenly distributed if you just tried hard. But research on cities, companies, and careers says otherwise: the 'power law' rules, meaning a few rare efforts generate a massive share of results. In venture capital, most investments go nowhere; a handful become Facebook or Google. Even in everyday life, a single project or skill can shape your trajectory more than dozens of average attempts. When people spread themselves thin, they miss out on big wins because energy is lost chasing incremental gains. As studies in decision science show, concentrating resources on breakout opportunities not only increases the chance of success but helps you learn faster—the stakes are high, but so are the rewards.

Start by openly listing everything you’re spending energy on—and then get honest about which projects or pursuits actually have the right mix of excitement and the potential to go big. Instead of trying to be decent at a dozen things, select the one or two where you sense real upside if things work out—then lean into those, letting go of lesser activities (even if it feels uncomfortable). Check in on whether your current top opportunity gets your best hours and effort, and don’t hesitate to reallocate as you learn. When you master the practice of going deep on power-law projects, the impact in results (and fulfillment) is unmistakable. Let yourself try this, and see what unfolds in a few months.