Many people have to juggle different facets of their lives in today’s fast-paced world. For instance, a big-shot CFO of a Fortune 500 company is also a family man with a partner and kids, a leader of several junior representatives, and part of an important social circle. He has to perform all these roles and is expected to excel in each one of them. So, achieving success is not the end game but a journey connected to several others.

Another point to consider is fighting through the law of averages. The path toward success is not like a walk in the park. In fact, one might face many struggles along the way in their quest for happiness and success. And if that person is a sower, the seeds will be firstly compromised by the birds, who won’t return anything. Those seeds might also fall on shallow ground, thorny ground, or in a place where the sunlight may not reach. These are examples of places where there’s no return to life either. Eventually, after years of struggle, some seeds will fall on good ground, where the sun will shine on them. That’s the time to reap their benefits. And one cannot do that without the right people by their side.

Richard E. Shaw’s new book, More Than Just a Game, sheds light on how the road to glory is filled with obstacles, sacrifices, and tough decisions. But one cannot achieve true glory by sacrificing the people who helped them tread that path. The book revolves around Dash, an aspiring athlete whose only dream is to become a National Football player. He worked hard to reach that podium that only a few could reach. Unfortunately, he chose his dream and passion over those who were rooting for him. That was his biggest mistake.

Experts suggest that success in life should not be restricted to a single facet. In fact, it is broad and encompasses several kinds of relationships. These relationships can range from parents, spouses, a coworker, or even the entire community. A common notion is that success is about getting what one wants, and happiness is reaching that point of success. But there is a catch. Sometimes, success does not lead to happiness, and we consider them synonymous. In reality, they are different.

Let’s look at it this way, Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg, unarguably two of the wealthiest men in the world, donated a handsome amount of their wealth to charity. This shows that even they reached a point where even billions of dollars could not offer them the level of happiness they sought. Looking at it objectively, most success enthusiasts second the notion that true happiness means swimming in a tub of money. People who reached the podium of success do not think similarly. The likes of Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates found success in giving rather than earning.

Richard Shaw also suggests that minds tend to daydream about the future, instead focusing on the present and taking one step at a time. A study indicated that people spend more than 50% of their time thinking about the past and the future instead of focusing on the present, leading to unhappiness. If one looks through the lens of achieving goals, these figures resonate. Richard’s journey in his book focuses on the present and cherishing the people who are there for you. So, success enthusiasts need to focus on the journey instead of the goal. Take small steps, celebrate small wins, and be humble about the little progress made. The rest will happen eventually.