Summary

The article challenges the notion that "cheaters never prosper," suggesting that while many successful people may cheat, it's possible to succeed with integrity.

Abstract

The article "Cheaters Always Prosper, But You Don’t Have to be One" presents a critical view of the adage "cheaters never prosper," arguing that cheaters often do prosper, at least temporarily. It emphasizes the importance of perseverance and character, drawing inspiration from figures like Thomas Edison and biblical references to illustrate the value of hope and hard work. However, the author acknowledges the prevalence of cheating among successful individuals, questioning the moral cost of success achieved through unethical means. The article encourages readers to strive for success without compromising their values, suggesting that true success comes with a clear conscience. It also touches on the idea that many successful people may not remember or disclose the full extent of their ethical compromises on their path to success. The author ultimately advocates for a success story built on integrity and hard work rather than one tainted by cheating and loss of character.

Opinions

The author believes that hard work and perseverance are essential for true success and that hope is a driving force in overcoming adversity.
Success achieved by cheating is seen as a perversion of the justice and ideals that should underpin achievement.
The article suggests that many successful people may have reached their status through unethical means, which they either forget or choose not to reveal.
There is a critique of the notion that "rules are made to be broken," implying that while taking risks is necessary for success, ethical boundaries should not be crossed.
The author points out that using insider secrets to gain an advantage, as in the case of Martha Stewart, can lead to severe consequences and is not a legitimate path to success.
The piece challenges the reader to aspire to a level of success that does not require sacrificing one's values or integrity.
It is implied that the reader should be wary of the "success stories" that are built on dishonesty and should strive to write their own success story based on honesty and hard work.

Cheaters Always Prosper, But You Don’t Have to be One

How to win with a clear conscience

If you believe, “cheaters never prosper,” you believe a lie.

You’ve probably heard this saying. It has been whispered in my ear from a very young age, and it inspires me to do better. Be more. Work harder. The premise of the statement is built on the back of success and hard work.

The idea is that hard work and gut perseverance are enough to get you anything you want in life. These old-fashioned ideas have built great civilizations, founded inventions, and sparked a creative genius in aspiring entrepreneurs and businesses to try new things.

“I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” — Thomas A. Edison

Edison, who invented the light bulb, inspires us not to give up. His perseverance is the lofty promise that hard work will get the job done, eventually. He and his team didn’t quit when their invention wasn’t a success. Edison is also famous for not failing. He is the inspiration that drives people to hustle for their dreams of success. Don’t stop. Don’t quit. Use willpower to keep going until the goal is achieved.

The belief is the value of hope. Hope inspires hard work in the face of adversity:

Perseverance → Character
Character → Hope

And hope is faith to keep moving forward.

“We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance; character, and character; hope. And, hope does not disappoint us.” — Romans 5:3–4

Enter: people who pervert the hope of success by cheating to meet their goals. There’s no harm in doing so, they tell themselves, as long as they don’t get caught. And, until they get caught, they can smile and be admired while the money keeps rolling in.

Cheaters never prosper. They fail to recognize they have become cheaters who perverted injustice of success for those who want to be like them. They sell their souls and forget their ideals while cheating to win.

Follow Successful People

Show me a successful person, and I’ll show you a cheater. Many can’t recall their steps to success. It’s one thing to forget how you arrived because you didn’t record the process. It’s quite another to inspire others to succeed based on poor character judgments. Most people will not find success by staying inside safe boundaries. Taking risks is necessary, but do you have to sell your soul in the process?

Break the Rules

Rules are made to be broken. Dare to be unconventional. Colour outside of the lines. Don’t play safe.

These sayings are more than a dare when taken too far. Drive is good, but when you succeed while breaking the rules, what good character is left underneath to enjoy success? When success is achieved by bending foundational rules to the edge and stopping, just before the rules are broken, how do you live with the person you’ve become? Rules are for unsuccessful people paying you for your expertise, the ones you laugh at behind their backs.

Live to break the rules. Then you have to figure out how to live with the person you’ve become. As long as the benefits outweigh the costs and the money keeps rolling in, you can live with yourself.

Use Insider Secrets

Use every insider secret to get an edge. It’s okay everyone is doing it.

When Martha Stewart sold her ImClone stocks based on an insider trading secret that her shares were going to plummet, she was convicted of a crime. She sold her stock to gain an advantage and avoid a loss. What she earned instead, was penalties, fines, and a jail sentence.

What insider tips are you using? Will they cause you to go too far?

Talent is Not Enough

Successful people cheat to get to the top. Your mentors are hard workers, but they are not telling you the whole truth about their success. Most are cheating and sacrificing their character in exchange for money. Most are nice people who don’t know they’ve lost their values. They are everyone’s ideal success story.

Be Less Than Ideal

Challenge yourself to be better than those you admire. I still have ideals that say hard work will win success with a clear conscience. I cannot believe that cheating is the only way to prosper. And, if it’s true — that cheating is the way to the highest success — I’m not sure I want to be the success story that’s built on the loss of character while singing a pretty song that’s a lie. I’d rather be good enough until I write a success story I can be proud of. I have enough grit to find another way.

Will you sell your soul to be a success, or can hard work still win the day?

‘Cheaters never win and winners never cheat.’

I still want this to be true. Is it? Or, am I too naive?

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