Success is a word we hear from the moment we are born. It follows us into classrooms, homes, workplaces, relationships, and society at large. Everyone has their own definition of it, their own expectations tied to it, and their own judgments about who deserves it. Yet very few of us are ever taught how success truly works—or more importantly, how it doesn’t work.
This book, “How Not to Become Successful: A First-Hand Experience from a non-IITian & non-IIMite,” is not a guide on shortcuts, formulas, or secret hacks. It is a journey through the mistakes, failures, missteps, and lessons that shaped my life. I did not walk the elite paths society glorifies. I did not come from the institutions that are often treated as golden gateways to success. My journey was ordinary, filled with setbacks, detours, wrong turns, and moments of doubt. Yet, through each chapter, I discovered something extraordinary—that success is not defined by where you come from, but by who you become.
This book is an honest reflection of that journey. It is a reminder that failures do not break you; they guide you. That expectations do not imprison you; they push you to redefine yourself. That dreams, discipline, courage, and relationships matter far more than degrees or designations. It is a reminder that your story is valid even if it doesn’t look like the standard “success template” the world celebrates.
Every chapter in this book comes from real experiences—some painful, some joyful, some confusing, but all transformative. If you have ever felt lost, rejected, misunderstood, or unsure about your path, this book is for you. If you have ever compared yourself to others and felt small, this book is for you. If you have ever wondered whether success is even meant for people like you, I hope this book helps you realize that success is not a privilege—it is a possibility for anyone willing to try, fail, learn, and rise.
Success does not require perfection.
It requires persistence.
It requires courage.
It requires discipline.
It requires staying true to the child within you.
And above all, it requires understanding what not to do.
This is that story.
This is that journey.
This is that truth.
— Amit Besra