How Taylor Swift Really Became a Superstar, NASA Engineer Explains Her Success

Taylor Swift’s unprecedented rise to superstardom, which didn’t follow any existing blueprint, is now the subject of a new book that aims to turn her career into a teachable roadmap. Sinéad O’Sullivan, a former NASA engineer with an MBA from Harvard Business School, has written Good Ideas and Power Moves: Ten Lessons for Success From Taylor Swift. The book, set to be released on September 9 by Penguin Random House, analyzes the strategic decisions that have shaped Swift’s career.

A Different Kind of Genius

A description of the book highlights that Swift’s genius extends beyond her music. The text states: “Taylor Swift’s genius is not limited to her singing and songcraft. As the founder of her own multibillion-dollar enterprise, she has higher returns than 99.9% of hedge funds and has built a stronger global corporation than nearly every other American conglomerate CEO. She is the only person that the U.S. Federal Reserve and European Central Bank track with precision. She has a larger impact on the economy than most economists that have ever lived. There is a lot to learn from Taylor Swift.”

The book explores several key lessons, including how Swift built a “Swiftverse” that fosters a strong community among her fans. O’Sullivan also discusses how Swift has rewritten the rules of the music industry, such as her decision to re-record her first six albums to regain control of her masters. Swift eventually purchased the rights to her masters in May.

A Story of Deliberate Choices

According to an excerpt from the book, Swift’s success is not a result of luck. Sinéad O’Sullivan writes, “Taylor’s story isn’t one of overnight success or unattainable genius. It’s a story of deliberate choices, relentless hard work and an unwavering belief in the power of having agency, and of believing in herself enough to use that agency. She has shown that success, no matter how outsize, is within reach for those who are willing to take risks, learn from setbacks, and stay true to their goals.”

Risks Aren’t a Subject of Fear.

This sentiment is echoed elsewhere in the book, where O’Sullivan writes that the pop star’s prosperity is attainable for anyone “willing to take risks.”

This latest book on Swift’s career comes after a period of immense success for the artist. Last year, her album The Tortured Poets Department spent 17 weeks at number one on the Billboard 200, making it one of the longest-running number-one albums in history. Swift also concluded her record-breaking Eras Tour, which became the highest-grossing tour of all time, earning over $2 billion.

And here are 10+ intriguing facts about Taylor Swift that shed a light on her immensely bright personality and may be an answer to many questions you might have about this outstanding woman.