Today, we have a story to narrate.

There was once a man named Arjun who, like many of us, believed that the path to success was linear—an unbroken ascent up a tall, sturdy ladder. As a young professional, Arjun was driven by the idea that if he worked hard, climbed fast, and ignored distractions, he would one day reach the top. And so, with determination in his heart, he began his climb.

Years passed, and Arjun moved swiftly up the rungs. He worked late into the night, skipped family gatherings, and declined invitations from friends, all in the name of progress. His efforts paid off—promotions, bigger paychecks, and awards on his office wall. He had everything he had ever worked for. Or so he thought.

One day, standing on the highest rung he had ever reached, Arjun paused for the first time. Looking down, he expected to see a world of admiration and fulfilment beneath him. Instead, he saw emptiness. The people he had once cherished were nowhere in sight. His wife and children had grown distant, his old friends had moved on, and his health, neglected for years, was now starting to fail him.

A sense of unease crept over him. Was this it? Was the top of the ladder supposed to feel this hollow? He had spent his entire life climbing, but for what?

As Arjun stood there, contemplating his journey, an old man appeared at the base of the ladder. The man called out, "What are you looking for up there?"

"Success," Arjun replied. "I’ve worked hard for it."

The old man chuckled, shaking his head. "Success isn’t up there, my friend. You won’t find it at the top of any ladder."

Confused, Arjun asked, "Then where is it?"

The old man pointed to the people walking by, the families sitting together on park benches, and the artists painting in the street. "Success is here," he said. "It’s in the connections you make, the love you give, the moments you truly live. You’ve spent so long climbing that you’ve forgotten how to live."

Arjun felt a pang of regret. He realized that he had missed out on even more while he had achieved much. Success wasn’t the goal; it was the journey. It wasn’t measured in titles or wealth but in the depth of his relationships, the impact he had on others, and the fulfilment he found within himself.

Climbing down the ladder was harder than going up. Each step required him to let go of something—his ego, fear of judgment, and need for external validation. But as he descended, he began to feel lighter, freer. When he finally reached the ground, he felt something he hadn’t experienced in years: peace.

From that day forward, Arjun stopped chasing success and focused on living with purpose. He spent time with his family, reconnected with old friends, and began mentoring young professionals—not to teach them how to climb faster but to remind them that life is about balance, connection, and growth.

And in doing so, he found what he had been searching for all along. His Human Edge wasn’t at the top of any ladder. It was within him, waiting to be discovered.

This story may sound familiar because, in many ways, it’s all of our stories. We chase after success, thinking it will bring us happiness, only to realize that we’ve lost something along the way. But it’s never too late to pause, reflect, and rediscover the true purpose of life.

So, ask yourself: Are you climbing the right ladder?

This is The Human Edge Newsletter, where we explore what it means to be truly human in a world that often forgets what we’re made for.

— Sanjay Kalla