Alright, buckle up folks, because I'm about to spill the beans on something I've been wrestling with for a while. It's about this whole "success" thing, and how we often get sold a load of bull about it.
I stumbled upon this phrase, "success has always been a great liar," and it really hit home. So, I decided to put it to the test, to see if it held water in my own little world.
It all started a few months back when I was chasing this promotion at work. I mean, I was obsessed. Working late, kissing butt, the whole nine yards. I convinced myself that if I just landed that role, I'd finally "made it." Success, right? That's what everyone tells you.
First, I sat down and analyzed the job description like it was the friggin' Dead Sea Scrolls. What skills did they want? What experience were they looking for? I made a list, and then I made another list of everything I'd ever done that even remotely resembled those requirements.
Then came the "performance." I volunteered for every project, even the ones that sounded like a total drag. I stayed late, even when there was absolutely no reason to. I made sure my boss saw me, always working hard. Sucked up a lot, if I'm being honest.
And guess what? I got the promotion! Champagne corks popping, pats on the back, the whole shebang. For about a week, I felt like a million bucks. Finally, success! I was the man!
But then... the shine wore off. The new job was more responsibility, more stress, and not a whole lot more reward. I was still the same old me, just with a fancier title and a bigger headache. In fact, I was more stressed than before! I wasn't sure if I'd made the right call!
I was working even longer hours, dealing with even more BS, and feeling even more disconnected from the things that actually mattered to me. My family, my hobbies, my sanity... all taking a hit for this "success" I'd chased so hard.
That's when it hit me: maybe this whole "success equals happiness" thing is a lie. Maybe we're all just running on a treadmill, chasing a carrot that's always just out of reach.
I took a step back and re-evaluated what success actually meant to me. Was it a fancy title? A bigger paycheck? Or was it something else entirely? I asked myself what really made me happy.
Turns out, it was spending time with my family, working on projects I actually cared about, and having the freedom to pursue my own interests. The promotion wasn't giving me any of that. In fact, it was taking it all away.
So, I started making changes. I stopped working late. I started saying "no" to projects that didn't excite me. I began delegating tasks when I could. I made time for my hobbies and my family. The boss wasn't thrilled, but the change made a huge difference.
Guess what happened? My work didn't fall apart. The world didn't end. In fact, I became more productive, because I was more focused and energized. And I was a hell of a lot happier.
Now, I'm not saying you should quit your job and move to a tropical island. But I am saying that you should question what "success" means to you. Don't let society or your boss or anyone else define it for you. Define it for yourself, and then chase that instead.
My success now looks like a balanced life, meaningful work, and strong relationships. It's not a perfect system, and I still have my moments of doubt and frustration. But overall, I'm moving in a direction that feels right for me.
The takeaway? Don't blindly chase what you think success should be. Take a good, hard look at what really matters to you, and then go after that. Otherwise, you might just end up with a fancy title and a whole lot of regret.
So, yeah, "success has always been a great liar." Don't let it fool you.
