In large, impersonal societies, it is difficult to gauge a person's character (virtue). Consequently, people seek status through easily observable metrics like wealth and achievement (success). This focus on quantifiable symbols of worth drives persistent status anxiety.

Most people want things because others want them (mimetic desire). The key to a fulfilling life is to be anti-mimetic—to want things from an internal volition, independent of social trends. People like Nick Gray or Palmer Luckey thrive by pursuing unpopular or idiosyncratic goals that genuinely excite them, rather than chasing what's popular.

Human brains encode generalized wanting easily, but identifying intrinsic values—things valued purely for their own sake—requires deliberate cognitive effort. People frequently confuse instrumental stepping stones or family expectations with their genuine intrinsic desires, pursuing lives that do not align with their true motivations.

People conditioned by academic success continue seeking "meritocratic competitions" in their careers, such as chasing the highest salary. They follow prescribed paths without reflecting on what they truly value, a script that capitalism happily provides for them.

The conventional path demands you follow a standardized track and just be 'better.' Unconventionally successful people ('dark horses') invert this. They prioritize personal fulfillment, and professional excellence becomes the natural byproduct of that authentic pursuit.

In the absence of a strong internal compass, humans are prone to "social contagion"—unconsciously absorbing the values, behaviors, and emotions of others. This leads to living someone else's life, driven by external trends rather than internal conviction. Your values are your defense.

According to philosopher René Girard, our desires are often copied from others ('memetic desire'). We may feel pressure to buy a house or achieve a career milestone simply because our friends are, not because it aligns with our core values. Clarifying personal values is the necessary antidote before big decisions.

Super-strivers are often conditioned in childhood to believe love is conditional on performance. As adults, this translates into an unending quest for external validation through success, fame, and money, as they unconsciously try to earn the love they feel they were denied.

People often adopt goals not because they truly want them, but because they want to be *seen* as the type of person who pursues such goals. This lack of authentic, internal desire is a primary and often overlooked reason for failure to follow through.