Focus on the moment, not the monsters that may or may not be up ahead.
Ryan HolidayRead
The idea that only the swaggering, all-knowing, and ruthlessly ambitious succeed is a lie. One that has discouraged so many people with so much potential - and worse, encouraged many more to crash and burn.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Success does not solely belong to those who are arrogant and overly ambitious; many with true potential are disheartened by this myth.
Ryan Holiday's quote challenges the misconception that only those who are aggressive and self-assured achieve success. It highlights the detrimental effects this myth has on individuals with great potential, discouraging them from pursuing their goals. Furthermore, it points out that such an ideal can lead to reckless behavior and ultimately failure for those who chase success without a true understanding of their own capabilities and values.
Themes
SuccessPotentialMythAmbitionDiscouragement
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech to a group of students who fear they aren't 'ambitious' enough to succeed.
More from Ryan Holiday
All quotes →Being criticized in the media is a good problem to have - most of the time. It means you're doing something that is at least interesting or cool or crazy enough to be noticed. It might not always feel good, but it's usually better than the alternative of obscurity.
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Virality, at its core, is asking someone to spend their social capital recommending or linking or posting about you for free.
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Ordinary people shy away form negative situations, just as they do with failure. They do their best to avoid trouble. What great people do is the opposite. They are their best in these situations. They turn personal tragedy or misfortune - really anything, everything - to their advantage.
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There is no good or bad without us, there is only perception. There is the event itself and the story we tell ourselves about what it means.
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Virality is not an accident. It is engineered. And that's why growth hackers beat traditional marketers.
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