Requisites for Worldly Success

I have spent much of my adult life studying the qualities required for worldly success, whether it be political, financial, or otherwise. Here are the qualities that I find extremely common among so-called highly successful people:

1. MOTIVATION

It seems all too obvious that one must be motivated to be successful. However, do we ever ask what it is that provides fundamental motivation or the desire to move? The answer is clearly unhappiness and insecurity. Simple! A happy, secure person is not motivated; has no need to move. So, a deep unhappiness and insecurity bordering on, if not full blown, neurosis is the fundamental requirement for worldly success.

2. DETERMINATION - SINGLE-MINDEDNESS

I don't think that many would argue against the observation that the vast majority of the world's population meets the first criterion. What else then is required? Is it not a certain energy, drive, determination, focus, single-mindedness? Do not we speak of "the drive for success?" Do we not find that many high achievers seem profoundly driven? And what else is this other than obsession and compulsion? Serious and deep obsession-compulsion at least bordering on psychosis.

3. RUTHLESSNESS

Here we separate the wannabees and pretenders from the high achievers. For top level success there must be a certain disregard even disdain for anything which would impede the success drive, such as rules, regulations, morals, ethics, other people.

4. COMPETITIVENESS

It is obvious that for someone to be successful he/she must be extremely competitive. In the most successful, they see everything in terms of winning and losing.

5. AGGRESSION

The desire to take the initiative and to dominate is also required for competitive success.

6. MANIPULATION

Strategic thinking aimed at maximizing personal advantage is another necessity.


So, the ideal candidate for worldly success is a seriously neurotic, obsessive-compulsive, mild-to-moderately psychotic sociopath. While there are certainly a few exceptions, this is without doubt in my mind, the most common path to "success." Is it any wonder, then, that the world is in strife? With this profile for our leaders and cultural icons how could there be any possibility of peace and tranquility in the world?