Success is Labour, Not Luck

 

In the last year, I’ve had lots of my family, friends and even absolute strangers telling me, “You are so lucky to be so talented,” or, “You are so lucky to be successful.” The use of the word “lucky” in these comments is extremely frustrating. It made me realize how some people don’t know what success represents as they overlook what’s truly behind success. They overlook the sacrifices, the setbacks and the countless hours of hard work. While I may have been fortunate to experience some unforgettable moments, I was never “lucky” to be successful. Also, I’ve come to understand that talent alone is definitely not what drives success. As Tim Notke, a passionate basketball coach, once said, “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard enough.”  

 

When I was younger, I used to believe that being successful would make things easier and would make me feel accomplished. But the truth is, success never makes things easier. In fact, it only makes them tougher. As you progress, the competition gets stronger, the self-expectations rise and the pressure to perform and to be the difference never really goes away. What I’ve come to understand is that success is not necessarily a free pass to an easier road but mostly an invitation to an ever bigger challenge.  

So if we can agree that feeling successful is temporary and that sacrifices only get bigger as you climb up the ladder, it’s fair to ask: why do some people chase success? For my part, I’ve realized that what truly motivates me is to grow one percent better every day and to celebrate every accomplishment, whether its big or small. The only thing we truly can do to make success feel right is to recognize every step forward and enjoy the opportunities and the company. 

 

In moments when a peer or a teammate achieves success and you don’t, it’s easy to fall into the trap of blaming others, feeling jealous and finding excuses. But pulling other people’s success down in order to lift yourself up will never benefit your own success. In reality, behaving this way only shifts your focus from what truly matters, namely what you can control. Success comes at different times for everyone. It’s not necessarily a race, it’s a personal journey fueled by the support of others. 

 

Everyone experiences success differently.  For some people, winning a championship is the only thing that is worthy of celebrating, but for others, a good grade, a new friendship or simply feeling themselves get better means just as much. When it comes down to it, the meaning of the word “success” is personal, and everyone gets to define it their own way.   

 

Overall, if there’s one thing I truly want you to take away, it’s that, in my opinion, success isn’t only about getting to the top, because winning is not necessarily what makes success special. What makes it so special is the journey, the hard work, the opportunities and the setbacks.