To Succeed..

I was told I had to follow a script to succeed

The tried and tested path was the one I needed to take, indeed

Success was formulaic, all the hard work that I was willing to put in

Had to fit in the accepted framework, in order for me to win

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I used to fancy myself an iconoclast, though in reality

It was the rebellious streak in me

That made me deviate from the path tried and tested

In following a mundane script I was not interested

So I disregarded the advice and decided I would chart

My own course, follow the dictates of my heart

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I never achieved the instant success that people admire

But I stayed true to my heart’s desires

I put in my best effort, over time I seemed to achieve

Traditional measures of success, I began to receive

Positive feedback on my work- I was on the right track

I felt fulfilled, even if broader recognition I lacked

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In the years since, success I’ve come to redefine

I am where I was supposed to be, my achievements are aligned

With my perspective on life, my worldview

More than traditional markers of success, my authenticity I value