The Truth About Success: What Lies Beneath the Surface
"The heights by great people reached and kept were not attained by sudden flight, but they, while their companions slept, were toiling upward in the night." – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Take a close look at this image. Success is the majestic peak above water—what everyone sees, admires, and strives for. But what about everything below the surface? THAT is where the real story lies.
Starting a business isn’t about instant wins or overnight fame. It’s about embracing the grind, staying in the game when the odds seem stacked against you, and continually pushing through challenges.
The Reality Behind the Iceberg: What Success Really Looks Like
We often admire success stories—the highlights, the achievements, the moment someone "makes it." But what we don’t always see is the grind beneath the surface, the part of the iceberg that no one talks about. If you want to succeed, you need to embrace the reality of the journey—the part that tests you, refines you, and shapes you into the person capable of achieving greatness.
Hard Work: Success Is Earned, Not Given
Success doesn’t knock on your door—it’s built through grit, effort, and unwavering consistency. The question isn’t whether you want success; the real question is: Are you willing to put in the work? Are you prepared to outwork your competition, push beyond your comfort zone, and do what others won’t?
Persistence: The Power of Never Giving Up
You will face obstacles, rejections, and moments of doubt. The path isn’t straight—it’s full of twists, turns, and roadblocks. But the ones who make it aren’t the ones who never fall—they’re the ones who get back up every single time.
Late Nights: Dreaming and Doing
When others are relaxing, sleeping, or making excuses, you will be building, creating, and pushing forward. Success is often built in the quiet moments when no one is watching—in the sacrifices you make when no one is clapping yet.
Rejections: Every ‘No’ Gets You Closer to ‘Yes’
Doors will close. Opportunities will slip through your fingers. People will tell you “no” more times than you can count. But here’s the truth: every rejection is a redirection toward something better. Stay in the game long enough, and you’ll see that the right opportunity will meet you at the right time—if you don’t quit too soon.
The Oprah Winfrey Story: From Rejection to Global Success
Before becoming a media mogul, Oprah Winfrey faced a crushing professional setback. Early in her career, she was fired from her job as a news anchor because her bosses told her she was "not fit for television." Instead of letting that rejection define her, she used it as fuel to find her true voice.
That rejection led her to a new opportunity—a daytime talk show that she transformed into The Oprah Winfrey Show, making history and building a billion-dollar empire. If she had given up after that first “no,” the world would have never experienced her impact, leadership and legacy.
Your Rejection Is Not the End—It’s a Reroute!
That job you didn’t get? That investor who said no? That client who walked away? It’s all part of the process. The most successful people don’t avoid rejection—they embrace it, learn from it, and keep moving forward. Instead of fearing rejection, track your "No’s" and aim for more. Every “no” means you’re taking action. Every “no” is leading you closer to the right “yes.”
Sacrifices: Trading Comfort for Freedom
What are you willing to let go of today to gain everything tomorrow? Sometimes, that means sacrificing weekends, social events, or temporary pleasures to build something bigger than yourself. Success demands choices. If you want the extraordinary, you can’t settle for ordinary habits.
Not Everyone Will Understand Your Vision
Not everyone will support you. Not everyone will believe in you. And that’s okay—they don’t have to. The people who criticize you often lack the courage to chase their own dreams. Keep moving, stay focused, and let your success speak for itself.
Reframing Fear into Growth
Self-doubt will whisper lies in your ear: “You’re not good enough. You’re not ready. What if you fail?” Instead of letting doubt paralyse you, reframe it as a challenge to rise higher. Growth comes from pushing past fear. If it scares you, it’s probably worth doing.
Failure: The Stepping Stone to Success
Failure isn’t final—it’s feedback. Every mistake, every misstep, and every setback is teaching you something valuable. The most successful people aren’t the ones who never fail; they’re the ones who fail forward, using every lesson as fuel for their next move.
The Story of Sara Blakely: Turning Failure into a Billion-Dollar Brand
Before becoming the youngest self-made female billionaire, Sara Blakely, the founder of Spanx, faced years of failure and rejection.
She originally dreamed of becoming a lawyer but failed the LSAT twice.
She took a job selling fax machines door-to-door and was rejected daily for seven years.
When she created Spanx, every manufacturer she approached turned her down, telling her the idea would never work.
But instead of giving up, she persisted. She finally convinced one manufacturer to take a chance, launched Spanx with her life savings of $5,000, and turned it into a billion-dollar empire. Blakely credits her success to her failures, saying that growing up, her father encouraged her to fail because failure meant she was trying, learning and growing.
Your Failures Are Your Lessons
What if failure wasn’t something to fear—but something to embrace? Every setback is setting you up for something bigger. The only real failure is quitting too soon. Next time you face failure, ask yourself: What is this teaching me? Write it down. Reframe it. Use it as fuel for your next move.
No Risk, No Reward
If you’re not willing to take a leap, you’re not ready for greatness. Playing it safe won’t get you anywhere extraordinary. Every breakthrough comes from a bold move, a leap of faith, or a willingness to bet on yourself when no one else will.
Your Power Move: Turning Struggle into Strength
Look at this iceberg—not as an obstacle, but as a blueprint for success. Everything beneath the surface—the hard work, late nights, rejections, doubts and sacrifices—isn’t a setback, it’s preparation.
Every struggle you face is shaping you into the person who will not only reach success but sustain it. The universe isn’t testing you—it’s training you. Your discipline, resilience, and mindset are being sharpened so that when your breakthrough comes, you are strong enough, skilled enough, and ready enough to handle it.
But here’s the truth: Success doesn’t just happen to you—it happens because of you. It’s built through intentional action, unwavering commitment, and a decision to keep moving forward no matter what.
Rewire Your Mind for Success
Close your eyes and visualise the highest version of yourself—the one who has already achieved everything you desire. See her standing tall, confident, and powerful. What does she think? How does she act? What choices does she make daily?
Now ask yourself: What is ONE action I can take TODAY to move closer to becoming her?
Commit to that action right now. Whether it’s waking up earlier, making that call, learning that skill, or pushing through discomfort—take that step. Because success isn’t about waiting—it’s about showing up. Show up for yourself. Show up for your dreams. The world is waiting for the person you’re becoming.
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Remember this: Success is not about luck—it’s about strategy, focus, and relentless action. So, Sista, let’s go deeper and create something extraordinary. The peak of success is waiting, but it starts with the foundation YOU build.
How do YOU see the “below the surface” work impacting your business journey? Let’s share and inspire each other below!
