Perceived success vs real success
We live in a world obsessed with success, in a world of “hustle culture”. You don’t wake up at 5am, run every day and take ice plunges? You must be unproductive and you aren’t going anywhere then. To be seen as successful often means being rich, having a big title, and a large following. While it can truly be a success, maybe even making dreams come true it goes deeper than that.
Success and succession come from the same Latin root succedere, meaning “to come after” or “to follow.”1 Success originally meant moving forward, following a path, or coming next in line. Succession is about what comes next. Real success works the same way: it’s not always loud or immediate. It’s a process - one step leading to the next, building on what came before. To succeed, in its truest sense, is simply to keep going.
Perceived success is the superficial layer. The curated highlight reel. It’s how others interpret your life from the outside - through filtered photos, job titles, or follower counts. It looks impressive. It feels validating. But it doesn’t always match what’s going on underneath.
Real success is quiet, often going unnoticed. It’s about showing up even when you don’t want to. It’s about passion where you keep going when you feel like you won’t go anywhere. Real success can be found in relationships, little achievements and moments of fulfilment that don’t need an audience.
In the end, perceived success fades the moment people stop looking. Real success stays even when no one’s watching - because it was never about them in the first place. It stays with you: in your growth, your values, and the quiet pride of knowing you didn’t fake it. Strive for it even if it feels cliché. Especially when it does - because that’s often when it matters most.
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