I’ll be honest from the start: I have an entirely different definition of “Success” (which I’ve explored in a separate blog post). So yes, this title is a bit of clickbait to draw you in – but since you’re reading this now, let’s dive into something far more valuable.
Ever wondered how many self-help books are sold annually? The number is staggering: 300 to 400 million copies per year. But books are just the tip of the iceberg. We’re drowning in wisdom – petabytes of digital content across blogs, podcasts, YouTube videos, and social media feeds, all promising to unlock the secrets of success.
Here’s the uncomfortable truth: What’s the probability that people consuming this content achieve even 50% of what the original creators accomplished?
It is just about 1%.
Ever wondered why would that be the case?
I understand it with this phenomenon Superimposition – the critical failure to properly overlay the creator’s context onto your own reality.
In its simplest form, superimposition means placing one object over another so both remain visible. When consuming self-improvement content, most people fail to superimpose the right emotional, intellectual, and behavioral context of the creators onto their own circumstances.
Lets understand this with some examples:-
Consider Warren Buffett, the legendary investor whose wisdom fills countless books and articles. People discovered Buffett after Berkshire Hathaway was already delivering spectacular results. But here’s what most followers miss:
- Early exposure to business through his father’s brokerage firm
- Specialized education in finance and economics
- Direct mentorship from Benjamin Graham, the father of value investing
- Career entirely focused on investing from a young age
- Decades of patient capital accumulation
- Emotional discipline developed through specific life experiences
When modern investors try to follow Buffett’s footsteps, they face three critical constraints:
- Environmental Differences: The market conditions, regulations, and opportunities that shaped Buffett’s early career are impossible to replicate exactly
- Resource Availability: Most people lack access to the same quality of mentorship, educational opportunities, and starting capital that Buffett had
- Life-Altering Influences: Buffett often credits his transformation to specific individuals like Benjamin Graham and Charlie Munger. These pivotal relationships and insights can’t be manufactured or guaranteed in anyone else’s journey
This same principle applies to any successful figure – Steve Jobs, Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg. Each had a unique constellation of circumstances, timing, personality traits, and external factors that contributed to their success.
Similar framework can be understood for Steve Jobs and Jeff Bezos or Mark Zuckerberg.
Solution is simple: Intelligent Superimposition
- Context Mapping
- Variance Analysis
- Probabilistic Thinking
- Strategic Adaption
That said, Self-help content isn’t useless – it’s just misapplied. The wisdom is real, but the application requires intelligent adaptation. Success isn’t about copying someone else’s blueprint; it’s about understanding the principles behind their success and creatively applying them to your unique situation
Stop trying to become Warren Buffett. Instead, use his principles to become the best version of yourself within your own context. That’s where real transformation happens.
(Thoughts are personal but polished by GenAI companions)