“Our greatest fear should not be of failure, but of succeeding at things in life that don't really matter.” — Francis Chan
Who is this written for?
This guide is for high achievers who want to re-examine the definitions of success they've carried thus far and design a fulfilling life on their terms. A couple times a month, I’ll share short essays and reflections on living a successful life.
Tell me more.
Like you, I've been a high achiever for most of my life. "High achiever" because I've never liked the term "overachiever." No amount of striving ever felt like overdoing it in this lifetime.
Every achiever has a unique and personal story. Mine is an immigrant story: moving to the United States at a young age, feeling out of place with a new culture and my American peers, attaching myself to academic and extracurricular success because it was one place where I felt like I belonged.
We've gotten the markers of external success— whether that's trophies and promotions, a well-paying job with increasing responsibility, or the home and lifestyle we've always dreamed of.
We're grateful for where we are, and we're running toward what's next: extending your achievement, reaching another milestone along the line we've drawn.
All the while, a little voice asks: Is this the path I want?
Maybe it's a sense of something in our lives shifting. We can't quite put our fingers on it, but the achievement that used to be thrilling now leaves us feeling a little tired or searching for meaning.
No matter how much we tell ourselves that this is the right direction, that we just need to get through the next hurdle, reach the next milestone, and then things will be great— a part of us still wonders if this is true. If the definition of success we've carried for a long time is the right one for us.
It takes courage to dig deeper, and you're ready to do just that.
“Life shrinks or expands based on one’s courage.” — Anaïs Nin
