Zahra was at odds in a world where society often dictated standards and norms. As an INTJ, she had an innate desire for perfection. Every task, project, or goal she undertook was met with meticulous attention to detail, a quest for flawlessness. But the relentless pursuit of perfection, while a strength, often left her drained and dissatisfied, especially when results didn’t align with her high standards.
During a philosophy class at the American University in Cairo (AUC), Zahra was introduced to existentialism and, more specifically, the works of Jean-Paul Sartre. His words, “Life has no meaning… It is up to you to give it a meaning, and value is nothing but the meaning that you choose,” resonated deeply with her. She saw a reflection of her own perfectionist tendencies in Sartre’s ideology. The realization that she could define her success, and some external standard didn’t dictate it, was transformative.
Zahra began to reframe her perspective. Instead of viewing her perfectionism as a relentless pursuit of an external standard, she embraced it as a tool to carve her path. Her drive for excellence became less about meeting societal expectations and more about crafting her journey, filled with self-defined goals and success parameters.
Instead of reflecting on her imperfection, each failure became an opportunity to redefine and adjust her strategy. Zahra started a consulting firm, using her perfectionism to help businesses streamline their operations. The number of clients or revenue didn’t measure her success, but by the tangible improvements she brought to each company, the satisfaction of her work was a true reflection of her values.
Zahra’s strategic approach and her existentialist beliefs attracted like-minded individuals and clients. They were drawn to her unique blend of meticulous perfectionism and the freedom of self-defined success.
As years passed, Zahra became a successful entrepreneur and a beacon for those struggling to find meaning in societal standards. Through workshops and seminars, she propagated the idea of existentialist thinking in personal success. Her message was clear: True success is self-defined, and when channeled strategically, perfectionism can be a powerful tool to achieve it.
In the grand tapestry of life, Zahra wove her strand with precision and purpose, embodying Sartre’s philosophy. She wasn’t just an INTJ perfectionist but a beacon, guiding others toward finding their meaning and value in life.
–American Academy of Advanced Thinking & Open AI
