What "Success" Really Means — And Why It Changes Without Warning
We chase success through salaries, status, and social media — but what if real success isn't a finish line at all?
This week, I found myself lying on my sofa, staring at the ceiling, questioning what "being successful" even means anymore.
We chase it, post about it, obsess over it — but rarely stop to ask if we even understand it.
Is success the number in your bank account?
Is it the followers you rack up?
The blue checkmark on your profile?
Is it the high paying job?
Or maybe it’s something quieter... something you can’t flex on Instagram.
Success is a moving target.
Just when you think you’ve caught it, it evolves.
The Dream: Big Tech and Six Figures
When I was younger, my idea of success was crystal clear:
Work at a Big Tech company.
Earn a six-figure salary.
Make it in the U.S.
Simple.
I even had a ritual: anytime I felt low, I’d rewatch The Social Network.
Watching Mark Zuckerberg build Facebook gave me the emotional fuel to keep going.
At times, I compared myself to him — the young tech prodigy.
That comparison became my motivation.
Like so many Computer Science students, I thought reaching that dream would be the final stamp of having 'made it,' and that I would be successful for life.
The Sacrifices No One Talks About
I left my family, my friends, and the life I had known for a couple of decades for that dream.
It didn’t feel like a sacrifice at the time.
It felt like a step — a necessary step — toward the success story I was writing in my head.
Eventually, I started living the life I had once only dreamt about.
I even told myself, "I’ll never feel unsuccessful again."
Spoiler: I was wrong.
The Day Success Slipped Away
Nothing dramatic happened.
No job loss.
No major life event.
But this week, that feeling of "I am successful" quietly slipped away.
Self-doubt crept in.
Disappointment followed.
It made me ask: Why?
Why did I lose my sense of success when nothing major had changed?
Success Is a Feeling, Not a Finish Line
Here's the brutal truth:
Success isn’t a permanent status you unlock.
It’s a feeling.
It’s personal.
It shifts with time.
No high-paying job can lock it in.
No title can guarantee it forever.
Success is simply how you see yourself at a particular moment.
But the real definition of success should be:
I’m at peace with who I am, and I’m proud of what I’m doing.
A Final Thought from an Unlikely Source
Ironically, I stumbled upon a Brooklyn Nine-Nine episode that captured it perfectly.
It said:
Life is chaos, success is completely arbitrary, and confidence is everything.
Turns out, real success isn't chasing a finish line.
It's learning to be okay with where you are — even if the world doesn’t clap for you.
I send out Master Mentee 🎓 weekly with curiosity and a passion for growth. If you're enjoying it, I'd be grateful if you shared it with a friend who’d appreciate it too.
Not subscribed yet? Join the growing mentee squad of curious minds.
✨ Get the next issue in your inbox:
If this resonated, tap the like 💚—it's free for you, but it supports my work and helps Master Mentee reach more amazing people like you.
Great points about success being a fleeting feeling! I think society, family, and media often sell us the idea that big achievements—like getting into a top university—will lead to lasting happiness. I bought into that, expecting my degree to make life easy, but the grind never stops. We’re wired to chase new goals after each win; the thrill fades fast. As the article suggests, maybe true success is about finding peace in this cycle, embracing the ups and downs with self-awareness.