Success Fatigue

Success is dream of every person. Success as a human being, success in profession, success with love and relations, success in society, spiritual success and so on. Whatever one does is inspired by a desire to succeed. 

Though it is everybody's dream, not everyone achieves the desired level of success. Few exceed expectations while many more languish in the abyss eying the coveted apex from afar. 

In this context, it is weird and anticlimactic that very successful people get tired of the success and want to call it quits at while at the height of achievement. But these are real cases. 

Today, CNN online featured one such story. Owner and star chef Magnus Nilsson of the Michelin-starred Swedish restaurant  Fäviken has announced that he will be shutting down the very successful venture in December 2019. Millions of restaurant owners and chefs around the world would die for what he has achieved but he says he is 'tired' of being at the top of the pile and working to maintain that coveted position all the time. He wants to call it a day and focus on family, fishing, gardening etc. 

Perhaps when people attain the height of their profession and have nothing else to achieve, they tend to get tired and want to garner different experience. They want something else to indulge in, something that can give internal fulfillment and joy. Something that is above luxury, wealth and fame. Something deeply personal and perhaps some time to look inwards. An opportunity to explore oneself and see if there are other creative and interesting venues other than the activity that has already delivered its maximum. 

It is said that maintaining the top spot is more difficult than attaining it. Perhaps the highest achievers get really tired of working their hearts out to maintain their top level. That relentless toil to maintain that zenith tires them out. That, probably, is the reason behind them deciding to quit doing something lucrative and highly successful from a professional standpoint. Their next level is perhaps beyond such achievements.

Wednesday 8 May 2019 (25 Baishakh 2076)