“Every man is the sum total of his reactions to experience… The goal is absolutely secondary: it is the functioning toward the goal which is important.”
— Hunter S. Thompson, 1958 letter to Hume Logan
In today’s hyper-focused, goal-obsessed world, few voices cut through the noise like Hunter S. Thompson’s. Known for his bold writing and unconventional life, Thompson offered a simple but profound insight: Don’t aim to become something. Aim to live a certain way.
It’s advice that challenges the way society thinks about success, ambition, and identity.
Your Experiences Shape You
Thompson believed people are not defined by titles or plans. They are defined by how they react to the world around them.
“Every man is the sum total of his reactions to experience.”
This means identity is not fixed. It changes. As we go through life, we gather experiences. Those experiences shape how we see the world—and how we see ourselves. The more we live, the more we evolve.
And because we change, our goals should change too.
Goals Can Be Limiting
From childhood, we’re told to set goals. Career goals. Financial goals. Life goals. But Thompson questioned this thinking.
“The answer must not deal with goals at all, or not with tangible goals, anyway.”
He warned that rigid goals can trap us. A goal set at 18 may not reflect who you are at 30. But people still chase it—because they feel they must. Instead of growing, they shrink to fit their past ambitions.
Choose the Way You Want to Live
The heart of Thompson’s message is this:
“A man who has found meaning has not dedicated his life to reaching a pre-defined goal, but… chosen a way of life he knows he will enjoy.”
It’s a simple shift. Instead of asking “What do I want to be?” ask “How do I want to live?”
Do you want freedom? Stability? Creativity? Structure? The right goal isn’t a title—it’s a rhythm of life that makes sense to you.
The Journey Matters More
Thompson believed the real value wasn’t in hitting the goal. It was in how you moved toward it.
“The goal is absolutely secondary: it is the functioning toward the goal which is important.”
This is where many go wrong. They focus only on results. But if you hate the process, the result won’t make you happy. The work should energise you. The path should make you feel alive.
A Message for Today
In a time of job titles, personal branding, and career ladders, Thompson’s words feel radical.
They remind us that it’s okay to change direction. It’s okay to grow out of old goals. What matters is whether your daily life reflects who you are now—not who you were then.
Final Takeaway
Success isn’t about reaching a fixed point. It’s about choosing a way to live that fits who you are—and letting your goals follow naturally.
So if you’re feeling lost or stuck, start here:
Ask yourself not what you want to become. Ask how you want to live.
