The myth of the road less traveled: Why authenticity beats audacity

Shreya Chaturvedi
Sep 25
3 min read

We’re often told that the “road less traveled” is where success lives.

"Be unique."

"Dare to be different."

"Take the bold path."

But what if this cultural mantra is misleading?

Recently, I met a 12th grader who said:

“I don’t want to do engineering because sab kar rahe hain.”

He reminded me of my younger self and prompted me to write this blog.

2019. I had done my B.Tech in Computer Science, worked for 3 years in a mass recruiter, and sat for MBA interviews.

My interviewer (who later happened to be one of my favorite Profs at college) asked me:

‘Why don’t you look proud about this?’

I replied: “Though I’m not ashamed. But I’m literally lakhon mein ek here. I don’t want to pretend this is some grand achievement.”

He appreciated the honesty. Then asked why I chose engineering, I said:

“Back in school, I chose C++ as an elective. It felt like solving puzzles. Coding was playful, stimulating, and also a rewarding skill. That love continued throughout my engineering and even in my job.”

He noticed my eyes lighting up in joy and passion.

Then he said something I’ll never forget:

“It’s not about doing something different or coming from an elite college. What’s rare is actually loving what you do. You have that in you. If you build on that, you can be extraordinary, even on the most common path.”

Why We Obsess Over Being Different

Psychology calls this distinctiveness bias—the belief that standing out automatically signals value.

Social identity theory shows that we crave uniqueness to establish personal significance. A 2017 study in Frontiers in Psychology found that people often overestimate the benefits of distinctiveness, linking “being different” with “being better,” even when no such correlation exists.

In reality, success doesn’t come from novelty for novelty’s sake. It comes from what psychologists Edward Deci and Richard Ryan describe as intrinsic motivation—doing something because you genuinely find it interesting and meaningful. Intrinsic motivation has been consistently linked to higher creativity, better performance, and long-term persistence compared to extrinsic drivers like status or applause.

The Paradox of the Common Path

Scale does not equal mediocrity.
India produces 1.5 million engineering graduates annually, but Gallup reports only 20% of employees worldwide are engaged in their work. Genuine passion is already rare.
Authenticity outperforms audacity.
A 2018 Harvard Business Review article revealed that leaders who act authentically, aligning actions with values, are rated as more effective and inspire higher team commitment. The same applies to careers: choosing paths aligned with your authentic interests sustains momentum, while “performative boldness” often burns out.
Self-determination is key.
According to self-determination theory, autonomy (choosing freely), competence (building skill), and relatedness (feeling connected) are the core drivers of fulfillment. These don’t require the road less traveled. They require the road that feels true.

The Trap of “Unauthentic Audacity”

When we chase uniqueness only to avoid being “common,” we risk self-betrayal. You’re still living someone else’s script—just inverted. The pressure to “look bold” is as performative as the pressure to “play safe.” Both detach you from what you really want.

That’s why unauthentic audacity is dangerous. It’s flashy, but it lacks staying power. Audacity born of authenticity, on the other hand, creates resilience. It transforms discipline into play, and work into craft.

The real rarity is not walking the untrodden path—it’s walking any path with genuine love for the journey.

So yes, pivot your career. Follow your passion. Ask for more in life. But not because it looks brave. Do it because it feels true.

Because audacity alone burns out fast. Authenticity is what keeps the fire alive.

Final Thought

Don’t fall for the illusion that being different is the goal. The real goal is being yourself—audaciously, unapologetically, and consistently. That’s the kind of rarity the world actually remembers.