This TEDx talk challenges the pervasive narrative of success achieved solely through desire and hard work, contrasting it with the reality of unequal opportunities. The speaker shares his personal experiences with repeated academic job rejections despite qualifications, illustrating how factors like nepotism can override meritocracy. He uses examples like Bill Gates' privileged upbringing and Elon Musk's wealthy father to highlight that circumstances play a significant role in attaining celebrated success, unlike the stories of the vast majority who face systemic disadvantages and often experience failure. Instead of focusing solely on outcomes, the speaker advocates for finding passion and focusing on the journey itself, arguing that this leads to fulfillment even if the ultimate goal isn't reached, and promotes challenging unfair systems like favoritism.