Archive · 24 Aug 2026

William Faulkner’s Success Advice: Compete With Your Former Self

William Faulkner’s Success Advice: Compete With Your Former Self

William Faulkner’s quote says that success is not mainly about beating other people.

It is about becoming better than you were before.

Everyone has different challenges, opportunities and starting points.

That means comparing yourself with someone else may not be fair.

You can measure progress by what you have learned or improved.

Small changes, such as reading more or handling problems better, can matter greatly.

Competition can still motivate people, but it should not be the only measure of success.

Big dreams can help people discover what they are capable of doing.

The most important person to outperform is your former self.

Sources