Better a happy opportunistic than a frustrated ambitious.

One always says “aim far”, “anything is possible”, “make it happen”, “don’t give up on your dreams”, “you can be whoever you want”, “be hungry, be foolish”. Truth is, it is not always possible and not everyone will become Steve Jobs . I come from a country with an elitist education system. France, with its competition entrance, its “Grandes Ecoles” and passion for ranking systems has done its job on my way of thinking and I, as well as many others, tend to think that life is a struggle, life is a jungle, and that you need to be the best to make your way through it, to reach your goals, to success. Though I made it so far through this competitive system with not much trouble, though I have played the game until now, I have also come to sometimes doubt the merits of such a way of seeing life.

When you are 23, you just finished University and you are starting your career, all you have heard during your whole education is that good grades and a career plan will be your best assets in life. There would be indeed, if you had full control over the events. However the best grades from the best school and the most precisely defined career plan will be no help against random factors such as competition or employment crisis. You just do not have full control over events. And you might experience painful failures though there was nothing you could have done about it.

And yet sometimes, you get there. Success. That dream job you were aiming for. And what is next? I guess a new challenge. You never stop on this exhausting run for success. Always better, always higher. Does that mean that the people far behind are worthless?

When being “ambitious”, there is always room for failure, for disappointment, for competition and for this feeling of dissatisfaction every time you reach a new step.

This way of thinking would be good if indeed, life was a jungle and you had to struggle to maintain your existence. Truth is, your life is not at stake and there is more room in this world that only for great performers. Modest expectations are equally important.

Life should not be governed by your goals, life should not be governed by this endless run that will leave you frustrated and breathless at the end. Life should only be driven by your ability to make the most out of everything.

It does not mean that you should remain static and never try to progress. To the contrary. But instead of having this one goal, this one destination that you may never reach and that might put every other wonderful possibilities in your blind sport, you should look up from your roadmap and look around you, to the infinity of paths there are to take. Be opportunistic, and seize and grasp as much as you can on the way. Take detours, meet people, and stop thinking of how your CV is going to look like. You are not defined by your goals and how fast you meet them. Don’t be afraid to be, before being someone and to live, before making a living. You will enjoy a stroll in your own beautiful garden better than a run through the jungle. Better be a happy opportunistic than a frustrated ambitious.