Is it easier to be a success at being nobody, than a failure at trying to be somebody?

Question

Just something I've been pondering from a recent conversation I had with an aquaintance.

Answer 1

In my view being nobody is not only the toughest but also the most rewarding task.... it involves annihilating 'ego' which is next to impossible, but a sure formula for everlasting undisturbed peace of mind.

Being nobody is not about what people think of us, it is primarily about what we think of ourselves and others' opinion matters only to the extent we give value to it. To truly and completely convince ourselves that we are nobody is indeed a Herculean task.

Answer 2

You will always be set up to fail if you are trying to succeed as someone you aren’t. If you fill someone else’s position in life, and forget about your own, who is filling your position? You are made to be...you, not Joe or Bob from down the street, and if you try to be these people you will fail.
Is being ‘a nobody’ a name that isn’t on the daily TV, or is it that you have no friends/no one recognizes you? If it is that you’re not a superstar, how are you a nobody? You would still be somebody to your mother, father, siblings, and friends, just not the world. If you are a superstar and everyone knows all the details about you, won’t you become yesterday’s news in a week, month, or year? Would you then, become ‘a nobody’? Depends on what you take ‘a nobody’ as….If you have no friends or no one recognizes you, then you must be scary and/or have bad breath. Hahahahaha

Answer 3

It is easier to be a success at being a nobody, than a failure at trying to be a somebody. Some people set ridiculous standards for themselves. Take myself. 3.94 GPA. Fourth year at school. Studying year round. Had an exhibition of my art. I'm not happy, even though I've reached my goals of being a "somebody."

Follow your own standards and you will be successful and most likely happy for it. I've let my social life slide for grades and I don't believe it is worth it. There is value in enjoying your life by your own perspective. Just find a balance between what you have to do and want to do.

Answer 4

Everyone can be a great success at being a nobody. The problem with this is having nothing you can recall as a an achievement will do quite a number on your self-confidence and self-esteem. Having nothing to be proud of will lead to depression. Having failed at trying to make something of your self will make you stronger and even if one fails, they were a lot of small successes along the way one can be proud of before they failed. Thus trying would make you a stronger, happier and more confident person.

Answer 5

Depending on your definition of success, you could be a "somebody" and still be a failure. Also I don't think people have to go out of their way to be a nobody unless they already went out of their way to be a somebody so I wouldn't necessarily label someone as being successful at being a nobody ;)

Answer 6

Yes - that's why so many don't try to succeed at anything they find really challenging. And blame everyone else. Many people are afraid of success (and looking at what most people regard as success, I don't blame them). Success at anything usually brings some burden of responsibility (which most people fear as you can see by the voting turnout in USA, etc). And whatever its costs, success is usually ephemeral. But sadly so many people who are "nobodies" don't give themselves credit for what they succeed at - from being caring companions to capable parents, and much more. The world functions more from the contributions of "nobodies" than from the interventions of the celebrated - "nobodies" are the motor and the wheels, whoever has hold of the steering wheel. But we need the "successful" as scapegoats for where the vehicle takes us - that's responsibility, again. So our choices come home, whatever they are.

Answer 7

depends on whether you place value in being a nobody. if you do perceive being a nobody as having the ability to hold some degree of success, then i don't see why you would even need to try to be anything but a nobody.

Answer 8

I guess it's easier for success at being nobody, because if you fail at trying to be somebody you're still a nobody.

Answer 9

You are talking about 2 different people.
One accepts to be nobody, and the other one refuses to be nobody, but it is easier to fail trying to be somebody. Although, how can nobody succeed at trying to be somebody?

Answer 10

You can be a top dog in one place and get fired for inept from others.

We are all different, trying to be others always run into troubles and struggles.

Personally, I will not feel proud by being an academic drop out from MIT.