In stories of personal achievement, there’s a tendency to portray talent as integral to identity and success as the measure of self-worth. However, this perspective is often misleading and unhelpful. It ignores the deeper realities of struggle and failure, focusing instead on only the triumphs. This selective storytelling can create an unrealistic narrative that frames one's worth strictly in terms of accomplishments.

The author Ryan Holiday highlights how this narrative conveniently overlooks moments of difficulty and pain, such as public humiliation or personal failures. He underscores that these experiences, often painful and filled with doubt, are essential to understanding the true journey of growth. By omitting these challenges, we fail to tell an honest story, missing the valuable lessons that arise from setbacks and mistakes.