Navigating The Turbulent Waters Of Success

It all starts with being clear on who we are

Major success implies compliance with the current standard. In rare cases, something unique disrupts the status quo and becomes the new standard. Even so, this new standard will soon be replicated by those who will attempt to achieve success in the new circumstances. Perhaps unsurprisingly, many of those who had attained popularity in the old model will manage to take it with them to the next: it is natural for any victory to put the winner in an advantageous starting position. In any case, anything that is popular enough will eventually become generic.

Medicines come to mind. A pharmaceutical company identifies an illness that afflicts a significant portion of the population, researches it thoroughly and subsequently develops a remedy. As the money rolls in, other pharmaceutical companies develop similar medicines, often identical, which they sell at a more economical price, not having to cover the research and development costs. Societies have written laws that regulate how this process occurs, as it would be counterproductive for all pharmaceutical ventures not to invest in innovation for fear they wouldn’t be able to turn a profit. Thus, patents are established to make shrewd copycats illegal. Naturally, the practice gives pharmaceuticals a de facto monopoly, which is…