Big key to success? Networking.
This started about because I googled my father's name. He's been retired for 20 years now, but he made it to the top of his chosen profession. He brought many of the people he knew along with him and at one point, he was friends with or had gotten jobs for most of the newspaper publishers and editors on the east coast. He told me it was all about networking. Keeping in touch with professionals that one day may open a door for you and he made sure to open many doors too.
And I consider myself successful, but not enough for google to notice. I'm considered an expert in my field, but it's just not that impressive as being a doctor or a professor.