I remember vividly when my schoolteacher told me 'Come out of your shell if you ever want to be successful'. It followed me for years and pessimistically I realised the only path to success demands me to be bold and loud.

I heard this many times 'Go Big or Go Home' and for me who prefers quiet corners, this always feels less like motivation and more like a punch to my gut.

Questioning the noise

Today's world loves noise. Often, we see that those with loudest voices in the room get the most attention, irrespective of whether they deserve it or not. However, true success does not always depend on how loud one can be but the impact one makes and sometimes the biggest impact come from the quietest corners.

Writing about my experiences, I have realized that introverts have their own superpower called 'depth'. While others are busy making noise, they are diving deep, thinking things through, and coming up with insights that others miss.

It also reminds me of Arthur Schopenhauer on how vital solitude and introspection he considers for deep thought and understanding. As someone who has had some of my best ideas in quietest corners, I couldn't agree more.

Changing the narrative of success

So, what if we changed this notion? Instead of 'Go big or go home, how about 'Go deep and make it count'?

Here's what I learned on my journey thus so far:

1. Your Thoughts matter: That idea that you're afraid to share might be the innovation everyone's been waiting for.

2. Carve your path: If you struggle to speaking in public, find another way to express yourself. Writing, or some form of art can be effective to express your thoughts and ideas.

3. Accept the power of quiet: In a noisy world, your capacity to pause and reflect deeply is a superpower.

4. Build your community: Be close to those who understand you, it makes all the difference.

5. Define your own success: Nobody can tell you what your success should look like. You define that for yourself.

You define your own success

Success often doesn't look anything like we expect it to. Sometimes, it's not about going big but those small, consistent actions that add up over time.

Countless scientists, philosophers, writers, and artists who shaped our world didn't need to be the loudest to make an impact. They were persistent, thoughtful, and true to themselves.

Success should not change you to fit some arbitrary mold but it should provoke your unique strengths to make your mark on the world, in whatever way feels authentic to you.

Maybe you don't need to 'Go big or go home' Maybe you just need to show up genuinely, day after day. Because at the end, that's where real success lies, in the quiet, consistent effort to be our best selves and contribute to your growth and that of the world around you.

And if anyone tells you that you need to "come out of your shell" to be successful? Well, you can tell them that some of the most beautiful things in nature do their best work inside their shells. And so can you.