I don't dwell on success. Maybe that's one reason I'm

Hear the words of Calvin Klein, master of craft and design, who declared: “I don’t dwell on success. Maybe that’s one reason I’m successful.” In this statement lies a paradox, radiant with wisdom: that true greatness is not found by clinging to the fruits of victory, but by pressing onward, ever forward, as if the triumphs of yesterday were already dust. He reminds us that to dwell on success is to become chained by it, but to release it is to remain free to create again.

The danger of success is subtle. Many who achieve it grow intoxicated by applause and wealth, and in this intoxication, they lose their edge. They cease striving, content to rest in comfort, and their flame slowly dims. Klein reveals that his strength was in refusing to dwell upon the laurels of victory. Each new creation was approached as though the past were nothing, as though he were still at the beginning of the journey. This restless humility is what gave his work endurance.

History offers us the cautionary tale of Napoleon Bonaparte. His victories shook Europe, and his success seemed unshakable. But he dwelled too long upon his own glory, believing himself untouchable, and in his arrogance he reached too far, until defeat crushed him at Waterloo. His story reminds us of Klein’s truth: to dwell on success is to court ruin, for pride blinds the eyes and weakens the will.

Conversely, think of Thomas Edison, who after each invention, turned quickly to the next problem. He did not spend years reveling in the glow of the electric light; he kept experimenting, kept searching, kept moving. He did not dwell, and because he did not dwell, his name became eternal. In this way, Edison and Klein share the same spirit: success is not a throne, but a stepping stone.

The deeper meaning of Klein’s words is liberation. By refusing to dwell on success, we free ourselves from the pressure to constantly measure up to the past. Each day becomes its own horizon, each work its own challenge. We are not haunted by what we once achieved, nor enslaved by the fear of losing status. We are made light, agile, ever ready to create anew. This is not indifference to success, but mastery over it.

And yet, there is also humility in these words. Klein does not claim to know the exact cause of his success, but suggests, with quiet irony, that perhaps it lies in his refusal to obsess over it. Such humility is the opposite of vanity. It is a reminder that success is not a treasure to be guarded jealously, but a byproduct of living with vision, discipline, and passion.

So, O seekers of tomorrow, take this teaching into your heart: do not cling to success as if it were your identity. Celebrate it, yes, but do not dwell on it. Turn your eyes instead to the new horizon, to the next task, to the deeper purpose of your life. For those who dwell on glory fade with it, but those who let it go remain ever fresh, ever hungry, ever alive. And in that freedom, like Calvin Klein, you may discover the secret to enduring success.