"How do you do that?" I spent a good part of my teen years asking my guitar playing friends that question. I've spent the majority of my adult life both asking and answering that question. I've noticed that when I've asked the question the answers are of varying quality. So when I've answered that question I've honestly tried to give the best answer I could.
If someone wishes to be a successful artist, the fourth component (along with talent, skill, and hard work) is opportunity. First there needs to be access to adequate tools like a guitar or paint brush or wood chisel or dance shoes, etc. There also needs to be access to quality training and education.
Because the guitar is primarily a folk instrument in our society, quality education has been a rarity. Although that's changed significantly over the last forty years, I can recall many stories of guitar teachers who couldn't play well. In some cases they didn't play guitar at all. They played other instruments and tried to fake it. Can you imagine if a piano or violin teacher tried that?
The definition of successful artist doesn't necessarily mean "financially successful". I believe that a successful artist is one who does the highest quality of work. There are many amateur artists who are quite successful, but on their own terms.
In the world of professional art, success is defined by both quality and financial reward. There are those who are financially successful, but are not considered artists by their peers and, on the other end, the starving artists. They are so common that even the term is a cliche. Talent, skill, and hard work are entwined and tangled around each other, but opportunity to get those first few jobs may prove almost impossible. When it happens, the other three kick in. That's when the hard work, skill, and talent help move you forward.
There are other factors as well. Never underestimate the power of stupidity to interfere. It may come from the people who always seem to be in charge, or it may be self-inflicted. And don't confuse fame with success. I've known many successful musicians, artists, and authors who are only known by a few but are supporting themselves with their art and are highly regarded by those around them.
Of the four, opportunity is the one thing that the general public has some control over. When you support a band, attend a concert, download a song, buy a book, attend a play, or make a purchase at a local gallery, you are having a direct impact on someones success. Making a donation to a local art organization may provide opportunity to many artists. And opportunity may knock more than once if it's given a nudge.