Success Isn’t Just Tall—It’s Wide Too!

Disclaimer
Before you dive into this blog, let me share something important. Everything I’ve written here is based on my beliefs, observations, and the little knowledge I’ve gathered so far. I don’t intend to offend or challenge anyone’s deeply-held beliefs, especially since I know some of you reading this have far more life experience than I do. My goal isn’t to debate but to offer a perspective. All I ask is that you read this with an open heart and mind—whether you agree or not is entirely up to you.

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Sometimes, I sit and wonder what success truly is. How does one become successful?

Some say, “Work hard, and you’ll be successful.”

But I’ve seen people who work harder than anyone else and are still nowhere close to succeeding.

Others say, “Work smart, and you’ll be successful.”

But I’ve seen people who are smarter than anyone else and still struggle to make ends meet, let alone succeed.

Yet others say, “Have faith in fate, and you’ll be successful.”

But I’ve seen people with unwavering faith watch their dreams crumble.

So, what is success? And why does it seem so elusive despite all these seemingly foolproof formulas?

 

Some time ago, I came across a fascinating analogy that changed how I look at success.

Today, people measure success in one dimension. A single variable. Your bank balance. As if that number alone can define the entire richness of life. But as a teen, someone just about to step into the so-called "real world," I found myself searching for a more satisfying answer. I asked people. I read books. I listened to podcasts. I did everything I could to decode this puzzle. And somewhere down the road, I realised that success isn’t just one thing; it comes in two distinct forms.

 

The first is like an Ashoka tree. It grows only in one direction: upwards. Give it the right environment, and it will rise tall, towering above everything else. But that's all it does. It has no fruits to nourish, no fragrant flowers, no shade to comfort the weary. The Ashoka tree symbolises people who grow in a single-minded pursuit of one goal—people who sacrifice everything to reach towering heights. We need them. They push humanity forward.

 

But here’s where the real trouble begins: when we, as a society, decide that an Ashoka tree is the ONLY valid definition of success. We start believing that height alone is enough to sustain an ecosystem. But it isn’t.

 

That’s where the Banyan tree comes in.

Unlike the Ashoka, the Banyan grows in all directions. It might not be the tallest tree in the forest, but it does what the Ashoka cannot. It spreads its branches wide, offering shade to the tired, shelter to the birds, and roots that intertwine with the earth, strengthening everything around it. It bears fruit, gives oxygen, and provides comfort. A Banyan tree doesn't just grow—it nurtures.

 

And that is the lesson I learned about success.

Linear success sounds exciting. If we give everything to earning money, it feels glamorous. We can buy luxurious cars, live in grand houses, and travel to exotic places. But is that enough? What happens when, despite all the external success, something feels missing? What if, after reaching the top, we realise we left behind everything that actually made life meaningful?

 

A holistic kind of success, like the Banyan tree, is more challenging to cultivate. It takes effort to grow in all directions, to nurture not just wealth but also health, relationships, knowledge, passions, and purpose. But in the end, this kind of success is far more fulfilling, enjoyable, and satisfying.

 

So, what kind of success do I want?

 

Well, I’ve decided that along with success, I also want to be satisfied with who I am.

Here’s my personal hack: Like the wise ones before me, I’m dividing my life into six aspects—six pillars that will help me grow like a Banyan tree.

 

1.        Health (Physical, Mental, and Emotional) – Because no amount of success matters if my body or mind is falling apart.

2.        Knowledge – Because growth is impossible without learning.

3.        Relationships (Intrapersonal and Interpersonal) – Because true success is empty without people to share it with.

4.        Passions (The activities I live for) – Because life should be about more than just work.

5.        Success (The material ones: Money, Fame, Power) – Because, let’s be honest, these things matter too. But they are just a part of the whole.

6.        Satisfaction (Social Outreach, Giving Back) – Because fulfillment comes not just from achieving but also from contributing.

 

Each of these pillars is equally important. I don’t want to be just an Ashoka tree, admired from afar but detached from the world. I want to be a Banyan tree—grounded, growing, and giving.

Maybe true success isn’t about chasing a singular goal at the cost of everything else. Maybe it’s about weaving together the different threads of life—strengthening them, balancing them, and ensuring none are left to wither. 

Because at the end of the day, success isn’t just about what we achieve—it’s about who we become while achieving it. 

 

Perhaps the real measure of success is whether, in reaching for the sky, we also manage to touch the lives of those around us.