The Silent Killer of Success

The Silent Killer of Success

By Saifullahi Attahir,

“Success is a lousy teacher,” says Microsoft founder Bill Gates.

The catalyst for the downfall of many success stories often stems from the wrongful, or rather inevitable, adaptation of a winner’s mindset. For success to endure, it demands the adoption of a runner-up attitude coupled with a beginner’s mindset.

This phenomenon caught my attention while I was teaching certain pupils. The class contained many brilliant students, whose capabilities I was well aware of.

Familiarity bred complacency among the most brilliant ones; secure in their unbeatable positions, they grew reluctant and would often lapse into distractions even during class.

Then, a new pupil appeared — a stranger I didn’t know. As a teacher and curious observer, I noted that this newcomer didn’t easily mingle with others, adopting the withdrawn attitude typical of newcomers.

Remarkably, he utilised this isolation to focus intently on class activities: arriving punctually, sans companions, and completing his homework diligently. In a class test I conducted, this newcomer topped the class and soon found himself competing with the erstwhile top performers.

His status as a newcomer and stranger fostered a mindset geared towards fitting into the new environment — he gave his best, unlike his complacent peers who presumed no one could surpass them.

History echoes similar narratives. In the 1948 US presidential election, Thomas E. Dewey, the Republican nominee, had participated in the previous 1944 election, narrowly losing to Franklin D. Roosevelt. Dewey thought victory was his this time — polls favoured him, magazines backed him, and Truman faced mounting pressure. Reportedly, Dewey grew convinced he’d won, evaded critical questions, and lost vital offensive energy. Result: Harry S. Truman won, marking one of America’s greatest political upsets.

The 2019 UEFA Champions League semi-final between F.C. Barcelona and Liverpool F.C. offers another illustration. Barcelona demolished Liverpool 3-0 at home, likely breeding a touch of egoism among players and fans who deemed a Liverpool comeback implausible.

The Reds defied odds, staging a dramatic turnaround to claim the cup. The differentiating factor? Liverpool’s poured energy, hunger, and die-hard survival mindset.

Corporate corridors echo parallel tales. When leadership transitions loom, candidates’ attitudes often dictate outcomes.

One contender, masterful yet convinced the organisation hinged on him, grew complacent — crossed arms, so to speak. Conversely, a humbler, hungrier rival though less skilled secured success through their potent mix of humility and drive.

Traditional Hausa folklore narrates the contrasting fortunes of ‘yar Bora and ‘yar Mowa. ‘Yar Bora, beautiful and from a prominent family, was arrogant; ‘yar Mowa, haggard from hardship, was humble and prayerful.

Guess who captivated the prince? Life’s ironies abound: often, those deemed unlikely rise meteorically. Hardship, not pedigree (Harvard, Oxford, Abuja connections), might furnish the survival ingredients you need.

Key takeaway: sustaining success beckons hunger and humility. Adopting a learner’s mindset, a stranger’s perspective, a runner-up’s zeal, and a second-class citizen’s drive keeps one striving. Goals shift — learner to master, runner-up to people champion, underdog to societal pillar — yet complacency remains inimical. It’s the Achilles’ heel of empires, businesses, and individuals alike.

As Bill Gates intimates, success can breed complacency, deluding one into infallibility and stunting growth, whereas failure often delivers critical growth lessons.

Attahir, President, National Association of Jigawa State Medical Students (NAJIMS NB), Federal University Dutse. saifullahiattahir93@gmail.com, 18/10/2025