The Myth of Success: Why Your Achievement is Only 10% Yours
To whom do you give credit for your beauty, success, power, prosperity, and fame?
Most of us reflexively claim the credit for ourselves. This is where the arrogance of seeing oneself as superior and others as inferior begins. Our common claim is that hard work, dedication, focus, and self-discipline alone made us successful. We live our lives in this illusion. In reality, your own contribution to your success might not even be 10%. Until we shed the delusion that an individual is the sole architect of their success, we cannot imagine a humble, equitable, and just society.
The Natural Lottery
Some are taller than average. Some have voices like nightingales. Some excel in art, music, or sports. Some have silky hair, others a sharp intellect. Some are born into noble families; others are born with certain physical traits that society deems "attractive." If you are skilled in competition or possess great health, to whom do you give the credit?
The role of the individual in their own success is minimal; the heavy lifting is done by nature (genetics) and society. For instance, how much credit does a famous actor deserve for being "handsome"? Beyond maintaining a diet and exercising, what part did they play in being born tall and sharp-featured? Ninety percent of the credit goes to nature and the society that defines "beauty." They are handsome because their parents were; no one "chooses" to be born beautiful. Therefore, ignoring nature and society while claiming total personal credit is unjust.
The Myth of the "Hardest Worker"
Take sports as an example. Legendary athletes like Michael Jordan or Lionel Messi are undoubtedly disciplined. But is their success solely a product of hard work? Are there no other players who are more "hard-working" or "self-disciplined" than Messi? Surely, there are thousands.
However, Messi’s "eye-for-the-ball," his "dribbling capacity," and his "tenacity" are gifts from nature. Nature gave him those traits more than others. Why does one person struggle for a week to find a single poetic emotion, while another breathes life into two poems while napping in a chair? The latter simply made the effort to put it on paper—but the inspiration was a gift of nature.
The Social Scaffolding
Success is not just biological; it is social. Consider a legendary singer like Lata Mangeshkar. Did no one else practice as hard as she did? Were there no others with a similar voice? Likely there were, but she was born and raised in the Mangeshkar family. Had she been born with the same voice in a marginalized family in a remote village, would the world have ever known her?
This applies to every field. Why does a child from a business community naturally lean towards trade, while a farmer's child finds it difficult (though not impossible)? In some societies, a child from a scholarly caste might excel in academics not because of inherent superiority, but because of a "Self-Fulfilling Prophecy." Society has told them for generations, "Learning is your duty." This becomes embedded in their subconscious mind.
The "Aishwarya Rai" Success Index If we break down the success of a global icon like Aishwarya Rai, how much of it is truly "hers"?
- Genetics: Being born with those features (Nature).
- Family: Protecting her from injury, illness, and malnutrition.
- Education: Teachers and curriculum that taught self-care and confidence.
- Social Circle: Friends and relatives who provided emotional stability and social skills.
- Media & Technology: Platforms like TV and cameras that projected her image.
- The Industry: The platform (Miss World) and the industry (Bollywood) that gave her a chance.
- The Audience: People who spent money to watch her films and provided feedback.
- Aesthetics: The societal definition of what is "beautiful."
- Luck: Being at the right place at the right time.
- The Universe: The very oxygen, sun, and earth that sustain life.
Conclusion: A Call for Humility
If you remove these external factors, the individual is nothing. Therefore, celebrities and successful people should abandon the arrogance that they are solely responsible for their status.
Be grateful. Be humble. Remember that there were likely many others as talented as you who didn't have the same "90%" of support from nature and society. Whether you are religious and believe you are doing "God's work," or a materialist who believes you are simply playing your part in the ecosystem—there is no room for ego.
Humility begins when we realise we are not showing a magic trick; we are simply recipients of a vast, interconnected web of support.
Have a wonderful day.
Khusi Limbu