Success, like happiness, cannot be pursued. It’s a powerful reminder that chasing the end goal often backfires. Instead, focus on the process and let the results follow naturally. It’s about building the right system, not just chasing a target.
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Table of Contents
Meaning
The core idea is that success is a byproduct. It’s an effect, not a cause. You can’t grab it directly; it has to emerge from your actions.
Explanation
Look, I’ve seen this play out so many times. When you fixate on the outcome—the revenue number, the weight loss, the promotion—you get tense. You start making desperate, short-sighted decisions. Your energy becomes all about the “get,” and it actually repels the very thing you want.
But when you shift your focus to the inputs, to the daily practice, to serving others, to mastering your craft… something magical happens. You stop *pushing* and start *doing*. You become absorbed in the work itself. And that’s when success *ensues*. It follows. It’s the natural consequence of a system built on value and consistency. It’s the difference between trying to be happy and just… being happy.
Quote Summary
Reading Level76
Aesthetic Score85
Origin & Factcheck
This is a quote popularized by Tim Ferriss in his 2016 book, “Tools of Titans.” Now, here’s the crucial bit—Ferriss is actually quoting and building upon the work of psychiatrist Viktor Frankl. The core concept of happiness as a side-effect comes directly from Frankl’s seminal work, “Man’s Search for Meaning.” Ferriss brilliantly applied this profound psychological insight to the modern pursuit of success.
Attribution Summary
Where is this quotation located?
| Quotation | Success, like happiness, cannot be pursued; it must ensue |
| Book Details | Publication Year: 2016; ISBN: 9781328683786; Last edition: 2017 Paperback; Number of pages: 707 |
| Where is it? | Part III: Wealthy, Section: Purpose, Approximate page from 2016 edition: 600 |
Context
In “Tools of Titans,” this idea isn’t presented in a vacuum. It’s woven into the routines and mindsets of the “Titans” he interviewed. They weren’t obsessively checking their stock prices every hour. They were focused on their morning routines, their health, their learning—the *process*. Their monumental success was the downstream result of that focus.
Usage Examples
So how do you actually use this? It’s a mindset shift.
- For an Entrepreneur: Stop obsessing over your monthly recurring revenue dashboard. Instead, become obsessed with making one customer deliriously happy each day. The growth will ensue.
- For a Writer: Don’t write with the goal of a bestseller. Write with the goal of creating one truly beautiful sentence, then another. The great book will ensue from that daily practice.
- For Anyone in a Rut: If you’re feeling unfulfilled, don’t ask “How can I be happy?” Ask “What small, meaningful problem can I solve for someone today?” The fulfillment will ensue.
This quote is for the over-striver, the burnout, the perfectionist—anyone who’s ever felt that the harder they chase, the further the goal seems to run away.
To whom it appeals?
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FAQ
Question: So does this mean I shouldn’t have goals?
Answer: Not at all. Have a compass, not a GPS. Know your general direction, but be present in the journey. Goals are useful for setting direction, but they make terrible daily companions.
Question: Isn’t this just passive? Shouldn’t I be aggressively going after what I want?
Answer: It’s the opposite of passive. It’s about aggressive, focused action—but on the *process*. It’s the difference between a farmer anxiously yanking on his crops versus diligently tending to the soil and the plants every single day. Which one actually gets the harvest?
Question: How is this different from “fake it till you make it”?
Answer: It’s completely different. “Fake it till you make it” is about the external appearance of success. This is about internal focus. It’s “*build it* and you will become it.” It’s authentic growth from the inside out.
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