Michael Jordan once said, "To be successful you have to be selfish, or else you never achieve. And once you get to your highest level, then you have to be unselfish. Stay reachable. Stay in touch. Don't isolate."
Success is something we all strive for. Whether you are seeking small successes in your day-to-day life or seeking to achieve a much larger goal, I think it's safe to say that, "be successful" is written on everyone's bucket list. Unfortunately, the problem lies within the fact that there is no clear-cut recipe for success; it's not written out in a handbook, and it's definitely not written in stone. When I was younger, my parents constantly reminded me that I could achieve anything and everything I set my mind to, and to an extent I still believe that to be true. There are very few things that are standing in the way of me and my dreams, but there are two important aspects of success that I struggle with every single day of my life: selflessness and selfishness.
Just like Michael Jordan said, in order to make your way to the top, you must have an element of selfishness or else you will never be able to do so...and wouldn't you agree? It can be so difficult at times not to be selfish when it comes to getting something you want. I admit that as I've gotten older, I find myself more concerned with my own life than the lives of my friends or family. It can be hard at times when you're so focused and driven towards accomplishing something, to remember that the world really doesn't revolve around you. Finding a balance between being selfless and being selfish can be so difficult that it seems impossible. But trust me, you can do it.
I remember a time in my life when I let people walk all over me. I was the world's biggest pushover. I blame this partly on insecurity, and partly on ignorance. I didn't understand at the time that it wasn't okay to let people tell me what to do or what to think, and because of this I tended to end up with a lot of disappointment. One day, on the long drive home from basketball practice, my dad asked me when I was going to stop letting people walk all over me. He asked when I was going to finally stand up for myself and what I wanted. Looking back, I didn't understand where my dad was coming from because I believed that by being selfless—by putting others before myself—I was doing the right thing. I was being a good person. But now I realize that you can be selfless and selfish, all while being a good person too.
I think being successful means finding the right balance between taking care of yourself and taking care of the people around you. Somedays you need to put yourself first, but also remember that other people are on the same journey as you; they need some support too. Success comes in many forms, some more recognizable than others. The trick is, however, when you find success for yourself, that you don't forget to share it with the people who helped you out along the way. "Stay reachable. Stay in touch. Don't isolate."
