On Success

Success Isn’t One-Size-Fits-All

Success is a word that often gets thrown around, but its meaning is far from universal. For some, it conjures images of wealth and fame. For others, it’s about mastery in a craft, raising a family, or living a life of deep philosophical thought. The truth is, success isn’t just about achieving what society glorifies—it’s about finding what gives your life purpose.

Don’t Let Society Define Success for You

Not everyone dreams of wealth and fame, and that’s perfectly okay. The problem arises when we let society dictate what success should look like for us. Many young men, in particular, feel the crushing weight of believing they must achieve financial or social status to be worth anything. But success comes in many forms, and the key to fulfillment is finding the one that truly suits you.

Chasing success in any area requires more than daydreams, though—it demands understanding. If a certain type of success appeals to you, you need to take a hard look at what it truly entails. Ask yourself: What does success in this field require? Am I drawn to the process, or am I only fantasizing about the rewards?

Love the Process, Not Just the Outcome

To succeed, you must love the work, not just the idea of the outcome. If you’re captivated only by the fantasy of the rewards, but not the reality of the effort and sacrifices required, you’re bound to fail.

Take wealth and fame as an example. Achieving them often demands long hours, calculated risks, relentless focus, and prioritizing work over personal time. These are steep costs, and they’re not for everyone. Without the drive to embrace these challenges, the pursuit will leave you feeling drained and frustrated.

Success in Different Forms

If strongman competitions appeal to you, your success will be measured by how much weight you can pick up, carry, or press overhead. That’s what you must train for. But true success in this field also requires disciplined sleep, diet, recovery, and potentially relying on supplements to push your limits. The glory of lifting massive weights comes with enormous effort behind the scenes.

Success in philosophy? It’s not just about reading books or repeating what great thinkers have said. True success means developing your own insights, living by the principles you believe in, and embodying philosophy in action—not just in words.

Success might even mean being a dedicated parent, raising strong, virtuous children who will make the world a better place. This kind of success requires patience, sacrifice, and teaching by example. It’s not glamorous, but it’s one of the most important and fulfilling forms of success there is.

Fulfillment Through Purpose

Whatever path calls to you, remember: success is built on hard work, discipline, and embracing the obstacles that come with it. If you’re not drawn to the process, the rewards will never feel fulfilling.

But when you find a path that aligns with your values and ambitions, the struggles won’t feel like sacrifices. They’ll feel like stepping stones toward something that resonates with your soul.

Build a Life That Resonates With You

Success isn’t about chasing someone else’s dream. It’s about building a life that resonates with who you truly are. The form of success you pursue—whether it’s wealth, strongman competitions, philosophy, parenting, or craftsmanship—matters less than the fact that it gives your life purpose.

Ask yourself: What kind of success truly suits me? Then commit to the path with everything you’ve got. Success, after all, is not about the destination—it’s about the meaningful journey you take to get there.