“A lot of us will never be successful in our lives, because the definition of that success is defined by the world and not us.”
In simple words, Ankur Warikoo is saying that many people chase goals they did not choose for themselves. They run after approval, titles and status, only to realise later that those things never truly felt personal.
ABOUT ANKUR WARIKOO
Ankur Warikoo was born on August 25, 1980, in Srinagar and grew up in New Delhi. He studied physics at Hindu College and later earned a master’s degree in astronomy and astrophysics from Michigan State University.
He went on to become the founding CEO of Groupon India and is now known as an internet entrepreneur, bestselling author and content creator. He is alive and continues to work actively in public speaking, education and content.
Warikoo’s public work is built on one clear idea: people should make choices from a place of awareness, not ignorance.
He speaks in a direct, simple style, and his content covers career, money, mindset, startups and relationships. That mix makes him relatable to young readers who want practical advice, not heavy words.
WHAT THE QUOTE MEANS
This quote is about pressure. Many people are told what success should look like: a certain job, a big salary, a costly house, a perfect life.
Warikoo says that when success is borrowed from others, it can leave people tired and empty. His own writing on success repeats this same point: the real question is not what the world wants, but what you want.
The philosophy behind the quote is simple. A life becomes meaningful when a person decides what progress looks like for them.
For one person, success may mean peace. For another, it may mean family time, creative work or financial freedom. Once people stop copying society’s checklist, they can breathe easier and move with more confidence.
OTHER QUOTES BY ANKUR WARIKOO
- No change ever happened without realising that change needs to happen.
- Those who don’t own their time get owned by the excuse.
- Nothing will define success better than going to bed everyday knowing you lived your day the way you wanted to, without caring what the world thinks of you.
- Sit on as many chairs as you can before you find the one chair on which you feel you belong.
In the end, Warikoo’s message is a reminder to pause and ask a simple question: whose life are we trying to win? Once that answer becomes our own, success feels less like a race and more like a life well lived.
