By: S.C. Ali
Founder/Author
A few weeks ago, a friend posted the above picture on social media. Typically, when I see shared posts I bypass them relatively quickly. However, this particular picture caught my eye.
In physical science, an iceberg floats in water because ice is less dense than water. Water is most dense at 4ºC in its liquid state, an anomaly in the science world. Because of the density difference, approximately one tenth of the ice floats above the water, and the other nine-tenths is submerged below the water.
The basic analogy drawn in the picture is simple. The road to success is long and hard, and when you reach the top (the apex of the iceberg), society recognizes it. However, unfortunately, many people do not understand and appreciate the road it takes in order to be successful. As a result, feelings of jealousy and envy may arise. However, these harbored feelings are weak and immature. If people valued more the determination and persistence that it takes in order to reach the top, there wouldn’t be jealousy, only admiration.
One example I am most familiar with is the road to becoming a physician. I am fortunate to have over 100 colleagues who are undergraduate students interested in medicine, medical students, or medical residents. Some individuals who are not healthcare professionals tend to glorify doctors. One of the first things I have heard time and time again from people is, “Oh, doctors make a lot of money.” Although doctors tend to be in the higher income strata, in the United States, they need to go through at least 11 years of school/training after high school before they reach the tip of their iceberg. Medical students who would like to pursue a residency in a more specialized field have to go through even more years of residency training before they achieve their goal. Residency is a tough road, as physicians are frequently overworked and underpaid during these years of training.
Some examples of current successful and prominent figures outside the medical realm include: Bill and Melinda Gates, Warren Buffet, Angela Merkel, and Janet Yellen. Although all of these individuals are reaping the rewards from their many years of hard work and determination at present, they all had their own trials and tribulations to go through before reaching there.
In essence, the qualities shown in the picture above are essential to success. The higher and more ambitious your goal, the steeper the hill will be to climb. However, the steeper the hill, the more rewarding the accomplishment when you reach the top. I implore you to set the example for society. Strive only for the best in whatever you pursue. Know that if you sincerely want the best, the road will be difficult and full of obstacles. However, the reward will be great. If you are serious about succeeding, it is imperative to master the qualities in the picture carefully. In doing so, you will acquire the capability to pave your own road to success. If there is someone who is highly successful among your cohort of family or friends, use them as an example. Ask them what they did or what they had to go through in order to reach where they are. Don’t just focus on the finished product, acknowledge and appreciate the process that it takes in order to reach that result.
Bronze Lifestyle 
