Be skeptical of gurus that claim they have the secret to success! Just because it worked for them doesn't mean it'll work for you. Don't be a victim of survivorship bias. Focusing only on stories of success leaves an incomplete picture of what caused that success. For every Gary Vaynerchuck, there are 1,000s of wannabes who try to copy him and fail. His strategies are solid. They worked for him. It's worked for others. But that doesn't mean it'll work for you! Ask "Why?" Not "How?" And be aware of author agendas (including mine ).

1. ©2019Rodney Hess
in/HesSEO
Surviving
Survivorship
Bias

2. ©2019
Rodney Hess
in/HesSEO
A reasoning error that
happens when you focus
only on stories of success
what is
survivorship
bias?
two/13

3. ©2019
Rodney Hess
in/HesSEO
Leading to a flawed
understanding of
what caused the
success
three/13

4. ©2019
Rodney Hess
in/HesSEO
In ww2
four/13
the Allies analyzed bullet
holes in returning planes
that encountered anti-
aircraft fire Let’s reinforce
the areas with
all those holes!
“
~ some dummy

5. ©2019
Rodney Hess
in/HesSEO
five/13
“ Hold up. This
damage is on the
planes that made it
home, ya dummy!
We should reinforce
the areas with no
holes!
~ Abraham wald
(direct quote, probably)
©2019

6. ©2019
Rodney Hess
in/HesSEO
Because these
are the planes
that didn’t
make it back
six/13

7. ©2019
Rodney Hess
in/HesSEO
So why does
survivorship
bias happen?
seven/13

8. ©2019
Rodney Hess
in/HesSEO
We
eight/13
To
Focus on outliers
where most of us exist
(not interesting)
(interesting)

9. ©2019
Rodney Hess
in/HesSEO
nobody wants to read about failures
following a winning strategy
We reward
stories of success
nine/13
©2019©2019
Rodney Hess
in/HesSEO
We dropped out.
You should too!
“

10. ©2019
Rodney Hess
in/HesSEO
ten/13
Randomness
Is scaryit’s comforting to think
there is a playbook for
success

11. ©2019
Rodney Hess
in/HesSEO
How do
you avoid
survivorship
bias?
eleven/13

12. ©2019
Rodney Hess
in/HesSEO
twelve/13
Ask “Why?”
Not “how?”what works for one person
may not work for another
for every Gary Vaynerchuk,
there are 1,000 wannabes who try
to copy him and fail

13. ©2019
Show It
Some Love
Rodney Hess
in/HesSEO
And be aware of author agendas
(including mine)
be skeptical
of gurus
Sources: themarketingstudent.com
richardhughesjones.com
hubspot.com