"Overnight success two years in the making"

Similar to Picasso's quote: you aren't getting paid for the time to create the thing in the moment, you're getting paid for all of the knowhow and experience and other set-up necessary to create the right thing at the right moment.

If all you see is the rising to the occasion in the moment, you'll think it's cheap, or luck. You'll miss that the only reason they were able to rise to the occasion when it presented itself is all of the preparation.