Success is that unicorn we all chase. I’ve spent a good chunk of my life wrestling with what it really means, watching its definition stretch from a quaint, personal journey into a full-blown societal scoreboard. The longer I’ve been at it, the more I’ve realized that it’s a rigged game. Apparently, in a seemingly meaningless pursuit of wealth, fame, and power, résumé padding and an Instagram feed stacked with bizarre choices are what really matter these days.
Through my teens and well into my young adulthood, I witnessed firsthand the devolution of success into something utterly ridiculous. Life often seems like a reality show where only the richest and fakest survive. Over time, the metrics have shifted from “What makes me happy?” to “How can I outshine my neighbor’s highlight reel?” So, as you’d expect, these superficial standards have overshadowed any deeper values, like fulfillment, purpose, or meaningful human connection.
The absurdity of all this should be obvious, and yet, we’re allowing ourselves to live in a world where success is measured by how many followers you have and whether you can post a #MondayMotivation photo of your avocado toast next to a Lamborghini. Even corporations have bought into the game, pushing this narrow, one-size-fits-all path to prestige: get the fancy job, go viral on TikTok, or be the next Elon Musk.
Today’s youth are drowning in these messages, bombarded with the idea that success equals material gain and an unending stream of social validation. There’s no room for quietly knitting your way to contentment or finding joy in small victories. Instead, we’re all forced to compare ourselves to one another in a contest that’s impossible to win. Creativity and individuality have become buried beneath the pressure to conform. So, it’s no wonder we’re all a bit dead inside.
Worst of all, this madness encourages short-term thinking over long-term well-being. I mean, who cares about ethics when stepping on someone’s dreams is just another Tuesday at the office? Our education system is busy churning out corporate drones, people who think “winning” means burning out by age thirty with a corner office and a drawer full of anxiety meds. It’s all a gigantic zero-sum game that’s eroding trust, community, and our collective sanity.
Actual success—the kind where you grow as a person, feel content with your life choices, and maybe even help someone else along the way—has become invisible. Before these hypercompetitive postmodern times, success could be summed up as just a quiet, satisfying feeling that you’ve done something meaningful, even if the world couldn’t care less.
Yet, despite all these environmental factors, there’s still hope—even if I’ve devolved from a wide-eyed optimist into a snarky pragmatist. Sure, the distortion of success is only getting worse, but there are still a few rebels out there who haven’t (yet) sold their souls for likes and retweets. Thank goodness for them, because if we’re all chasing after the same glittery mirage, we’re just going to keep stumbling over ourselves in the process.
Success Isn’t Just a Shiny New Car and 2.5 Kids
If you’ve spent more than five minutes on social media, you might be under the impression that success looks like a PhD, a shiny Tesla, and a big house with a lawn so green it makes nature itself jealous. But, those people projecting their success stories like a well-edited movie trailer are hiding an unmitigated disaster behind the scenes. Peek under the glossy surface, and you’ll find a mess of dysfunction, anxiety, and questionable life choices that no amount of money or filters can fix.
So, here’s a pro tip: step back for a second and reframe your own perspective. You’ll quickly realize the truly successful people aren’t the ones flexing their wealth on Instagram. There are two kinds of “successful” folks in this world. First, there’s the type society wants you to envy—those who’ve mastered the art of stepping on everyone else to reach the top. Then there’s the second type—the quiet geniuses, minding their business and doing something exceptionally well without the need to shout about it. The latter kind are the ones who retire comfortably, sipping tea while the rest of the world burns itself out on the treadmill of ambition.
So, if you’re looking for a guide to the good life, forget the corporate checklist for success. The people in those boardrooms didn’t get there by playing nice—they bulldozed their way in, and most of them didn’t earn it. Corporations have turned the human experience into a numbers game, devaluing labor and slapping dollar signs on creativity. Instead, focus on lifting others up with you. Build a support system, not an exclusive clique with ridiculous membership fees.
Recognizing Your Strengths
If you’re still with me, congratulations—you haven’t been completely brainwashed by society’s twisted definition of success. So, how do you make it in this world without selling your soul? Step one: recognize your strengths. This sounds simple, but trust me, it’s harder than it looks.
Start by asking yourself some real questions: What makes you feel genuinely alive? What tasks make time fly by without feeling like a chore? These are the clues to your true strengths. If you can’t come up with any good answers to these questions on your own, ask someone you trust. Honestly, we all have blind spots, and sometimes our friends and family see our potential more clearly than we do.
Once you have a handle on your strengths, the next step is to diversify. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket like so many specialists insist that you do; instead, build up a variety of skills that complement each other. You must be flexible, because almost nothing in life goes according to plan. So, if you can pivot, you’ll never be stuck for long.
Finally, remember that education isn’t just about getting degrees and certifications. You must be constantly learning, evolving, and applying your skills in real-world situations. While there’s a certain charm in being a jack-of-all-trades, aim for mastery in one or two areas while picking up a few side skills along the way. Whatever the case, don’t be afraid to fail—it’s all part of the process.
So, success isn’t about shiny things or social media fame. Rather, it means finding what you’re good at, helping others along the way, and staying true to yourself. In the end, that’s the only kind of success that really matters.
~ Amelia Desertsong
