Whenever someone asks me the secret to success, my answer is one word: Delusion.
Look at every successful person you know: They were either born into the right circles, or they leveraged a little bit of delusion to get there.
They convinced themselves that they belonged in a certain place, which, over time, moved them into that place.
You might argue that success starts with hard work. Hard work is necessary, but working blindly will take you further in a default direction that someone else chose for you. Instead, create a slightly delusional direction and vision for yourself:
You at the very top of your field. You with a few books published. You creating something new. You being paid for your expertise. Or, simply you, 3 levels above where you currently are.
This is a version of “fake it until you make it”, but there’s nothing fake about it. Your talent, intelligence and work ethic must be undeniable. The rest is just leveraging delusion, by way of exposure:
Exposure to new knowledge and beliefs, exposure to the art and references that will shape your tastes, exposure to the right people and the right opportunities.
It’s also about anti-exposure. Putting blinders on. Having zero time for that which isn’t helping you toward your goal of helping yourself and others.
Your success is a product of your own thoughts. What feeds those thoughts must be carefully curated by you. The people, information, and ideas that you let into (or banish from) your mind.
I have a friend who grew up poor, was home schooled, and couldn’t afford college. His (highly unrealistic) aspiration was to find a fun and stylish way to make a lot of money. He knew that there must be groups of people out there living this way, but they certainly didn’t exist in his corner of the world.
So he moved.
Moved to a city that he couldn’t afford or relate to. Began encountering people who had what he wanted: Jobs as creative executives. Great taste in architecture and design. Work they loved. Circles of great friends. Elegantly designed lives.
This kid grew up in a moldy midwest basement. Now he was moving in elite circles. He was tempted to feel like a fish out of water.
But his instincts told him that if he acknowledged the glaring cultural and economic gap between himself and his new friends, he would actualize that separation. If he spoke the “truth” out loud, he would literally create a divide between himself and everything he wanted.
So he summoned a bit of delusion. Found common ground with his new acquaintances. Shared their hobbies, which came naturally. Showed his value by crushing every opportunity they sent his way. He acclimated. Felt at home.
My friend’s goal in all of this was simply to be around people who were living the life he wanted, so that maybe that life could rub off on him. And it worked.
Your delusions, reinforced by others, become reality.
The first step toward healthy delusion: Simply deciding that you are worthy.
Worthy of close friendships with people you admire.
Worthy of attracting opportunities that you can multiply and share.
Worthy of the hard work and self-education that it takes to become someone new.
Worthy of working on great projects and sharing them (and worthy of creating them yourself if an employer doesn’t provide them.)
You can use delusion to your advantage without deluding yourself.
In the face of challenges, day-to-day problems, or even hardship, the most heroic act you can perform is not to simply stay calm, but to be full of energy, enthusiasm, and optimism.
In doing so, you may come across as a bit crazy. But what’s the point of staying in tune with your reason, seeing things “objectively” when, in fact, a little bit of delusion could help you move forward?
What’s the point of being pragmatic or “seeing things as they are” if this doesn’t actually get you closer to the life you dream about?
Success happens when ideas and aptitude get packaged together with work ethic, likability and contribution.
Delusion is an app that runs in the background. And it makes all the difference.
