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"The Deep Truth About Success"

Discover why desire, not talent, drives achievement.

By zohaib khanPublished 7 months ago 3 min read
"The Deep Truth About Success"
Photo by Brett Jordan on Unsplash

Start writing...Once upon a time, a young man wanted to become successful. He had big dreams and high hopes, but he didn’t know how to achieve them. So, he went to a wise old man named Socrates, who was known for his knowledge and wisdom.

“Sir,” the young man asked, “Can you please tell me the secret to success?”

Socrates looked at the young man for a moment and said, “Come with me to the river early tomorrow morning. I’ll show you the answer.”

The young man was excited and curious. He thought Socrates would teach him some magical formula or share a powerful secret. He woke up early the next day, got ready, and met Socrates at the river just as the sun began to rise.

Without saying much, Socrates asked the young man to walk with him into the river. The young man followed, unsure of what was going to happen. They kept walking into the water until it reached their shoulders. The young man was starting to feel nervous, but he trusted Socrates.

Suddenly, Socrates grabbed the young man's head and pushed it underwater.

The young man was shocked. He didn’t know what was happening. At first, he stayed calm, thinking it was part of the lesson. But then, as seconds passed, he couldn’t breathe. He began to panic. He kicked his legs, flailed his arms, and struggled to lift his head out of the water. He tried everything he could, but Socrates was strong and held him down.

Just when the young man felt like he couldn’t hold on any longer, Socrates pulled him up.

The young man gasped loudly, taking in deep breaths of air. He coughed and took a few moments to recover.

Socrates looked at him and asked calmly, “What did you want the most when you were underwater?”

The young man, still breathing hard, replied, “Air! I just wanted to breathe!”

Socrates nodded and said, “Exactly. That is the secret to success. When you want success as badly as you wanted air just now, then you will get it. There is no other secret.”

The young man was silent. He now understood what Socrates meant.


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Understanding the Lesson

Socrates didn’t give the young man a list of steps or a long speech about motivation. Instead, he gave him a powerful experience—one he would never forget. The message was simple but strong: Success comes to those who truly want it, deep in their hearts. Not just wish for it. Not just talk about it. But those who fight for it, work for it, and never give up.

Think about it: when you are underwater, you don’t think about anything else. You don’t think about your phone, your friends, or your problems. All you want is to breathe. Your full attention is on getting air. That is the kind of focus and hunger we need if we want to succeed in life.

Many people say they want success. But only a few are willing to work hard for it, face challenges, make sacrifices, and keep going even when things get tough.


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A Real-Life Example

Imagine a student who wants to be the best in school. Everyone wants good grades, but only the student who studies daily, asks questions, and keeps learning—even when it’s hard—is the one who truly wants it. That’s the burning desire that leads to real success.

Or think of someone who wants to become a famous athlete. Wishing is not enough. They need to train every day, eat right, stay focused, and not give up—even when they lose a game or get injured. That is what burning desire looks like in action.


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The Moral of the Story

A burning desire is the starting point of all great success. It is the fire that keeps us moving forward. Without strong desire, our dreams fade. Just like a small fire cannot give much heat, a weak desire cannot produce big results.

So, the next time you set a goal, ask yourself: Do I want this as badly as I want to breathe? Am I ready to work hard, stay focused, and never give up?

If your answer is yes, then no obstacle can stop you. That burning desire will guide you, push you, and help you succeed—no matter what.

goals

About the Creator

zohaib khan

Start writing..."Adventurer & storyteller | Exploring the world one vlog at a time | 200K+ YouTube subscribers | Collabs: GoPro, Airbnb | Let’s connect!"

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