"A few years back, after my startup failed, I found myself drowning in debt yet still buying things I thought would make me look successful. Designer sneakers I wore twice. A watch that cost more than my rent. Tech gadgets that collected dust. Why? Because somewhere along the way, I'd convinced myself that looking successful was the same as being successful."
"Here's something wild: research shows that we drastically overestimate how much other people notice or care about what we're doing. Psychologists call it the "spotlight effect." We think everyone's watching our performance, but honestly? Most people are too busy worrying about their own spotlight to notice yours. I learned this the hard way when my startup crashed and burned. I'd done a lot of things right, had a solid product, decent funding, but still failed."
A failed startup led to heavy debt while continuing to purchase luxury items to project success. Expensive sneakers, watches costing more than rent, and unused tech gadgets illustrated prioritizing appearance over financial reality. The spotlight effect causes people to overestimate how much others notice or judge them, increasing pressure to perform success. After failure, expected public scrutiny rarely materialized; social responses were minimal and fleeting. The finances spent on projection became waste. The experience emphasizes reducing compulsive consumption, recognizing misperceived social attention, and redirecting resources toward recovery and authentic priorities.
Read at Silicon Canals
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