Albert-László Barabási: The real relationship between your age and your chance of success

The speaker shares his career journey, highlighting the role of networks in success. He contrasts performance and success, noting that while performance is bounded, success is unbounded and collective. The talk challenges the notion that creativity is linked to youth, showing that success can occur at any age. The speaker emphasizes that productivity, not age, influences success, using examples from science and entrepreneurship to illustrate that creativity has no age limit.

What did Albert Einstein suggest about scientific contributions?

• They are best made after the age of 30.

• They are only possible with a PhD.

• They are unlikely to occur after the age of 30.

• They are equally likely at any age.

What does the speaker imply about the role of networks in success?

• Networks can both help and hinder success.

• Networks are only important in science.

• Networks have no impact on success.

• Success is independent of networks.

How does the speaker define the difference between performance and success?

• Success is about effort, performance is about results.

• Performance is personal effort, success is community recognition.

• Performance is about community recognition, success is personal.

• Performance and success are the same.

What is a key characteristic of performance according to the speaker?

• It is bounded and varies in a narrow range.

• It varies greatly among individuals.

• It is unbounded.

• It is not measurable.

What does the speaker suggest about the nature of success?

• It is always proportional to performance.

• It is unbounded and can vary greatly.

• It is predictable and consistent.

• It is solely based on luck.

What does the speaker conclude about creativity and age in scientific careers?

• Creativity declines after the first paper.

• Older scientists are less creative.

• Creativity can occur at any age.

• Creativity is limited to early career stages.

What is the relationship between productivity and success in science?

• Productivity decreases with age, affecting success.

• Success is random and not linked to productivity.

• Productivity has no impact on success.

• Higher productivity always leads to success.

What does the data suggest about age and successful exits in entrepreneurship?

• Older entrepreneurs are more likely to succeed.

• Age has no impact on success.

• Younger entrepreneurs are more successful.

• Success is random in entrepreneurship.

What is a common misconception about creativity in Silicon Valley?

• Creativity is not valued in Silicon Valley.

• Creativity is equally distributed across ages.

• Older individuals are more creative.

• Creativity is only for the young.

What is the speaker's final message about creativity and success?

• Creativity is limited by age.

• Success is only for the young.

• Success is predetermined.

• Continued effort can lead to success at any age.