Throughout your youth, everyone has told you to set goals and to strive until you achieve them. This is sound advice. But, in a way, it can be shortsighted. What your families, teachers, councilors, and role models may fail to mention is that setting the right goals is even more important than working toward their attainment.

What if, halfway to your goal, you realize that it’s wrong? What if you realize that your ambition may harm others you care about? What if you finally get to the top only to find no one else to enjoy success with you?

Read Macbeth or watch some of those interviews with Charlie Sheen to see what I mean. If we’re to believe his definition of “winning,” I’m glad to be a loser.