There is a nice phrase: 'Success is not owned. It is only

“There is a nice phrase: ‘Success is not owned. It is only rented.’ And the rent is due every day. Of course I could say: ‘I’ve achieved a lot now. Now I’ll lean back.’ But that doesn’t meet the demands I have on my life.” So declared Hansi Flick, a master of the field, whose wisdom pierces beyond the stadium into the very heart of life itself. His words ring like the toll of a bell: success is not a possession, not a crown to be seized once and worn forever. It is a rental, a dwelling that must be paid for by effort, vigilance, and discipline, day after day, lest it be taken away.

The origin of this saying lies in the restless truth of human endeavor. Too often, men and women labor fiercely until they reach a height, and then, drunk on victory, they slumber in their triumph. Yet the mountain of success does not have a summit where one may dwell forever—it demands continual climbing, continual striving. Flick himself, as a coach, witnessed this in the world of football: victories won one season mean nothing the next if the team does not rise again, train again, and fight again. The rent is never paid once for all.

Consider the story of the Roman legions, whose empire stretched across continents. When they held to discipline, drilling daily, sharpening swords, marching with precision, they were feared and invincible. But when ease crept in, when commanders leaned back and soldiers grew lax, their might decayed. Rome’s greatness was not owned—it was rented, and when they failed to pay with diligence, their empire crumbled. Thus history itself testifies: the rent of success is demanded without ceasing.

Flick’s words carry also a personal confession. He speaks of his own life, refusing to “lean back” though achievements are many. For he knows that to stop striving is to betray one’s calling. The ancients would have called this virtue of the soul arete—excellence, the pursuit of one’s highest potential until the final breath. A man may win trophies, but if he abandons the spirit of striving, he becomes hollow, and his victories turn to dust. To live greatly is not to rest in past glories, but to rise each dawn as if the rent were due anew.

How many fall into the trap of thinking they have “arrived”? The artist who ceases to practice, the leader who stops learning, the craftsman who refuses to improve—all soon discover that yesterday’s strength cannot sustain tomorrow’s challenges. Their music fades, their power dwindles, their house of success collapses. Flick’s wisdom warns us: greatness is a discipline, not a destination.

The lesson is clear: if you would live a life of meaning, then embrace the rent. Wake each day prepared to labor again. Do not measure your worth by what you achieved yesterday, but by the effort you give today. Let diligence be your constant companion. For success is not in the trophy or the crown, but in the daily practice of paying the rent, faithfully, with sweat, courage, and resolve.

Therefore, let each one act. Rise with purpose. Train your mind, your craft, your character. Do not lean back when triumph comes, but lean forward into the next challenge. Rejoice in victories, but never rest upon them. Pay the rent with discipline, and your life will be a beacon of enduring excellence. For as Flick has taught us: “Success is not owned. It is only rented. And the rent is due every day.”