“Success” doesn’t matter

You’ll notice that I’ve put success in quotes. That’s because I don’t want to be prescriptive of what “success” means to you.

If you already have your own definition of success – and it’s not tied to the external validation of recognition, accolades, and awards – great!

You’re probably on the right track and can likely just nod along with this piece in a self-affirming and borderline smug way. Enjoy! (That kind of success does matter.)

If, however, you’re still chasing some other person’s version of success, then hear this, from the late, great David Foster Wallace (bolding mine):

“And I think that the ultimate way you and I get lucky is if you have some success early in life, you get to find out early it doesn’t mean anything. Which means you get to start early the work of figuring out what does mean something…”

So good, right?

I share and say this as someone whose personal growth has been hampered at many stages by a self-esteem quashing need to be seen as cool, nice, smart, “successful,” “worth knowing,” noteworthy, and on and on.

Hopefully this helps you as it does me.

Infinitely jesting,
James

P.S. The quote itself comes from David Lipsky’s book “Although of Course You End Up Becoming Yourself: A Road Trip with David Foster Wallace”