Does it matter whether we succeed or fail in the world?

It will matter to you so long as you haven't realized your inner purpose .After that , the outer purpose is just a game that you many continue to play simply because you enjoy it .It is also possible to fail completely in your outer purpose and at the same time totally succeed in your inner purpose .Or the other way around ,which is actually more common : outer riches and inner poverty , or to " gain the world and lose your soul ," as Jesus puts it .Ultimately , of course every outer purpose is doomed to "fail" sooner or later , simply because it is subject to the law of impermanence of all things .The sooner you realize that your outer purpose cannot give you lasting fulfillment , the better .When you have seen the limitations of your outer purpose , you give up your unrealistic expectation that it should make you happy , and you make it subservient to your inner purpose .

Eckhart Tolle from the Power of Now .