# Redefining Success   | Mohamad Tahmasbi | TEDxIBEuropeanSchool

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYzG4oWf_Ac
Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/aYzG4oWf_Ac
Generated: 2026-01-08T16:20:10.821+00:00

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## Quick Overview

The speaker redefines success away from external achievements, like high grades (A+), and towards internal fulfillment derived from pursuing things one deeply cares about, emphasizing that true success is defined by how one lives while achieving, not just the achievements themselves.

**Key Points:**
- The speaker recounts a moment of burnout while studying biology notes late at night, questioning the purpose of pushing so hard ('Why am I pushing this hard?').
- Initial definition of success was tied to external validation: achieving high marks (A+ on a chemistry test) and university/job prospects, leading to exhaustion and anger.
- The speaker realized that achievements (like grades) are not equivalent to success, stating explicitly: 'ACHIEVEMENTS X 
eq SUCCESS' (02:36).
- True success is defined by fulfillment and personal growth, not external checkboxes or societal approval (02:46).
- The speaker advocates for paying attention to balance and well-being, suggesting that balance is part of progress, not just a break (03:06).
- The recommended action is to stop and rethink the old definitions of success, prioritizing personal passions (art, sports, meaningful projects) over external metrics (03:44).
- The speaker noted a significant difference in his own feelings and performance after shifting focus from external achievement to internal fulfillment (04:13).

![Screenshot at 02:36: The speaker presents the core thesis of the talk on the screen: 'ACHIEVEMENTS X 
eq SUCCESS', visually contrasting academic metrics with genuine fulfillment.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/aYzG4oWf_Ac/00-02-36.jpg)

**Context:** This TEDx talk, delivered at TEDxIBEuropeanSchool, features a young speaker, Mohamad Tahmasbi, recounting his personal struggle with the pressure to achieve academically. He describes hitting a wall of exhaustion and questioning the relentless pursuit of grades and external validation, which he initially equated with success, leading him to seek a more meaningful and personal definition of what it means to succeed.

## Detailed Analysis

The speaker begins by describing an intense moment of academic pressure while studying biology late at night, prompting him to question why he was pushing himself so hard. He details his previous, externally driven definition of success, which involved achieving top marks (A+) in subjects like chemistry, sacrificing sleep, and believing his future (university, job) depended solely on these achievements. After experiencing burnout despite achieving good grades, he realized the flaw in this mindset. The central message is that achievements do not equal success; true success is defined by *how* one lives while pursuing goals, emphasizing personal fulfillment, growth, and connection to things cared about, rather than merely checking boxes society approves of. He argues that paying attention to balance and mental well-being is an integral part of progress, not a distraction from it. He concludes by urging the audience to redefine success to align with personal values, such as family time or passion projects, rather than solely external metrics.

### The Cycle of Overachievement

- Recounts studying late for biology notes while family socialized (00:08)
- Obsessing over grades (A+) and future prospects (01:32)
- Feeling angry and empty despite getting good test results (02:08).

### Redefining Success

- States clearly that 'ACHIEVEMENTS X 
eq SUCCESS' (02:36)
- Success is not about checking boxes or societal approval (02:44).

### The New Metric

- True success is about fulfillment and personal growth (02:47)
- It is personal, not universal (03:09)
- It involves prioritizing mental health and balance as part of progress (03:23).

### Call to Action

- Urges the audience to 'STOP AND THINK' (04:34)
- Change old definitions of success (04:37)
- Prioritize things cared about like family, art, or personal projects over endless cramming (03:57).

![Screenshot at 00:07: The TEDxIBEuropeanSchool opening slide sets the scene for the presentation.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/aYzG4oWf_Ac/00-00-07.jpg)
![Screenshot at 00:10: The presenter introduces the central conflict with the slide question: 'WHY AM I PUSHING THIS HARD?'](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/aYzG4oWf_Ac/00-00-10.jpg)
![Screenshot at 01:06: A slide contrasts academic pressure with personal life, showing 'ONE TOPIC. ENDLESS STUDYING. ZERO SLEEP.'](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/aYzG4oWf_Ac/00-01-06.jpg)
![Screenshot at 02:36: The main conceptual slide states that achievements do not equate to success, featuring 'ACHIEVEMENTS X 
eq SUCCESS'.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/aYzG4oWf_Ac/00-02-36.jpg)
![Screenshot at 03:06: A later slide emphasizes the importance of mental health: 'PAYING ATTENTION TO BALANCE ISN'T A BREAK. IT'S PART OF PROGRESS.'](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/aYzG4oWf_Ac/00-03-06.jpg)