Does it make me douchey if I don't tell people about my personal goals?

Question

If there's on thing I've learned about trying to succeed in life, there are two types of people mainly. People who want to build you up, and people who want to break you down. Sadly when aiming high, most people want to break you down and thats true for everyone. But one thing that most successful people have taught me, is that who you surround yourself with matters.

Ive always taken the approach to chasing after your goals no matter what people tell you. For example, when I was in High school i didn't care about academics very much so people told me I would get nowhere in life. However, as I got older I starting discovering my own passions and now I'm a Grad student at Harvard. Nobody would've seen that coming.

Every time I meet someone successful in life, they have a few attributes in common. 1). they never give up no matter the odds, 2.) they've always had to overcome adversity, 3.) They always networked with at least a few people to help them get where they are.

As i've gotten older (Now 25), ive realized its a waste of time to tell people your goals in life if they're just going to stomp on them. Plus, most people don't know what they're talking about anyways. Now a days, i just go after my goals myself and see how far I get, and if I fail I fail forward. I only befriend people who want to see me succeed and lift me up and actually have experience. Sadly, those diamonds are far and few between, but they're the most important. Does anyone else follow this approach?

? · Answer

Having a chip on your shoulder like that never really serves one well in life but if that's what it takes to get you keep some of your thoughts to yourself (like most people do) then I guess it's working.

Anonymous · Answer

Very unusual for a Harvard Grad Student to be unable to write and punctuate in English.  Very odd.  "Now a days"?  
.
No, I didn't get my degrees at Harvard, and I can actually write in English.  Is this tearing you down and/or building me up?  No, this is calling bullsh*t on your "question."  (By the way, it's impossible to network with no other people.)

? · Answer

no it does not dont worry

T C · Answer

One of my favorite poems ...actually, I am not a big poem person but I really like this.

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit-
Rest if you must, but don't you quit.

Life is particular with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a fellow turns about
When he might have won had he stuck it out.
Don't give up though the pace seems slow -
You may succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than
It seems to a faint and faltering man;

Often the struggler has given up
When he might have captured the victor's cup;
And he learned too late when the night came down,
How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out -
The silver tint in the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It might be near when it seems afar;

So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit -
It's when things seem worst that you must not quit

Does it make me douchey if I don't tell people about my personal goals?

4 Answers