Pride, Ethics, and Money: Why Simulating Success Prevents You from Achieving It

Being successful, wealthy, and respected is a dream for many. It’s natural to want a higher place in the social hierarchy, to become someone others look up to. But here’s the reality: the top of the pyramid is small, and getting there is tough. It takes hard work, risks, and sometimes going against comfortable social norms

Being successful, wealthy, and respected is a dream for many. It’s natural to want a higher place in the social hierarchy, to become someone others look up to. But here’s the reality: the top of the pyramid is small, and getting there is tough. It takes hard work, risks, and sometimes going against comfortable social norms. However, it’s much easier to pretend to be successful than to actually achieve it.

How the Illusion of Success Destroys Real Chances

If someone is broke and wants to escape, logic says:

• Face reality. Admit you’re at zero and urgently find ways to reach one.

• Find a path. Identify a promising field, resources, and experience.

• Act efficiently. Learn from successful people without unnecessary hesitation.

But what do most people do? They simulate success. It looks something like this:

• They live slowly, as if money is already rolling in passively.

• They avoid hard work—after all, the rich don’t struggle, right?

• They insist on learning everything firsthand instead of using proven models.

• They refuse outside help or funding out of fear of looking poor.

• They waste resources on status symbols instead of actual progress.

In the end, by age 50, comes the unpleasant realization: success was just an illusion. The money is gone, opportunities are fewer, and time is no longer on their side.

The Real Path to the Top: Harsh but Effective

Here’s an uncomfortable truth: if you’re not rich, you can’t afford not to be selfish. Until you have capital, you must:

• Take money where it’s available and invest in growth.

• Learn as fast as possible and copy successful strategies.

• Sacrifice comfort for real results.

• Play your own game, not someone else’s illusion.

If you think you have plenty of time—you don’t. Get rich in a safe way first—only then can you afford ethics and altruism. Until then, being a pragmatic egoist is better than being a broke dreamer.