"Success is blocked by concentrating on it and planning for it... Success is shy - it won't come out while you're watching"

Focusing excessively on achieving success can actually become a barrier, rather than a path, to attaining it. When a person becomes preoccupied with the idea of succeeding, constantly thinking about how to win, meticulously strategizing each step, and measuring progress with a vigilant eye, the natural flow of creativity and genuine effort can become stifled. This preoccupation can induce anxiety, pressure, and self-consciousness, robbing actions of their authenticity and spontaneity.

Tennessee Williams, by referring to success as “shy,” conveys the enigmatic nature of achievement. Like a wary animal, success often retreats when pursued too aggressively or observed too intently. Individuals who are absorbed with watching their own progress or awaiting the results may actually miss out on the core activities, habits, and passions that foster genuine accomplishment. Much of what leads to true success emerges from immersion in the process rather than from an anxious fixation on the outcome. Artists create their best work when they lose themselves in their art, athletes perform at their peak when focused on the game itself rather than the trophy.

The paradox is that success is frequently a byproduct; it emerges indirectly when attention is devoted to mastery, exploration, and meaningful engagement. Those who dwell too much in planning and prediction can become paralyzed by over-analysis, losing sight of the joy and growth embedded in the endeavor itself. Trusting the process, maintaining focus on doing the present work well, and letting go of anxious expectation can invite success quietly into one's life. Williams suggests that stepping back, relinquishing frantic control, and “not watching” can create the freedom, freshness, and authenticity necessary for genuine fulfillment to quietly appear when least expected. Such an approach allows accomplishment to unfold naturally, guided by interest, perseverance, and presence rather than by relentless pursuit.