The term “Matthew Effect” was coined by sociologist Robert K. Merton, inspired by a biblical line about how “the rich get richer”. He noticed that in academia, well-known scientists kept getting more credit, funding, and recognition – even when others did equally good work.
Since then, studies have shown similar patterns everywhere. One famous type of experiment found that when people were given random early wins (like being told they performed better than others), they were more likely to keep winning later; not because they suddenly became more talented, but because everything else started shifting in their favour. You’ve also probably been heard that if you find success by the age of 25 (the magic number, for some reason), you’re set for life.
So what’s actually happening?
What looks like “natural success” is usually a loop of psychology and opportunity reinforcing each other. An early win – whether it’s a good internship, a competition, or even just recognition – builds confidence. That confidence changes behaviour: people take more initiative, go for bigger opportunities, and carry themselves differently.
At the same time, others start to respond to that signal. They assume competence, offer more responsibility, and open doors that might not have been available before. Over time, access compounds; one opportunity leads to another, networks widen, and visibility increases.
From the outside, it appears as if someone is consistently successful, but underneath it’s often a series of small advantages stacking on top of each other, creating momentum that becomes hard to stop. Before long, it looks like someone is just naturally successful, but really, they caught momentum early and it kept compounding.
Why this hits hard in Singapore
In Singapore, this dynamic feels especially intense because success is often tracked early and visibly. Internships, school pedigree, and first jobs can feel like they set the tone for everything that follows, and there’s a strong culture of comparison, whether it’s LinkedIn updates, scholarship announcements, or career milestones among peers.
As a result, the idea that early wins can compound into long-term advantage hits harder, because it feels like trajectories are fixed sooner than they actually are. When everyone around you seems to be moving quickly and decisively, it’s easy to interpret a slower or less linear path as falling behind, rather than recognising it as part of a different, and equally valid, way of building towards success.
And yes, the Matthew Effect is real. Early advantages do compound.
The part people don’t talk about
But what if you’re not yet successful by age 25? Don’t fret. You’re probably just experiencing the quarter life crisis. Not finding success or your niche by that age isn’t just fine; it can actually be an advantage.
This is because if success locks you into a path, a lack of early success keeps you flexible. By not finding success too early, you get to try different industries, fail without reputation risk, build skills quietly, and figure out what you actually want (not just what works).
Meanwhile, someone who “made it” early might feel pressure to stick to what they’re known for or avoid risks that could damage their track record.
A better way to look at it
Instead of seeing success as a single track you either catch early or miss entirely, it helps to think of it as different loops. Early success can put you into a momentum loop, where wins build confidence, visibility, and more opportunities.
But early uncertainty puts you into an exploration loop, where you have the freedom to try different paths, make mistakes, and figure out what actually fits you without pressure. Both paths can lead to long-term success; they just work differently. One compounds quickly, the other builds depth and clarity over time.
The Matthew Effect explains why success can snowball, but it doesn’t mean you missed your chance. If anything, your early 20s aren’t about proving you’re already successful – they’re about building the conditions that make future success more likely.
And sometimes, not “winning” early just means you’re still choosing your game.
