Most so-called successful playbooks are nothing more than imaginary paths, conveniently created by connecting dots in hindsight to fit a desired narrative.
We collectively downplay the role of luck and randomness. There’s a tendency to overemphasize personal agency in good outcomes — “I succeeded because I made the right choices.”
When outcomes aren’t favorable, we lean on statistically backed explanations. And, if that fails, we fall back on the classic “But I learned a lot”.
As humans, we’re wired for stories; they’re ingrained in our evolution. It’s no surprise that we constantly search for a narrative, even when it isn’t the truth.
But it’s important to take a step back, ask the uncomfortable questions, and see beyond these stories.
Maybe then we can get closer to understanding the real forces at play.
Parth Choudhury 