I thought hard work equalled success. I had to realise that’s not always how it works, in science or in life
If the words “force equals mass times acceleration” are mildly triggering, I apologise. Newton’s second law of motion will be familiar to anyone who’s ever studied physics. For some who struggled with that course, it may bring back painful memories. But for me, as an awkward teenager, it was oddly comforting – proof of an ordered, structured universe where cause always led to predictable effect. I carried that belief into university, where I studied physics, and even into my career. If I just worked hard enough, success would be mine.
But nine months into my first job, I got made redundant. It turns out that life doesn’t always obey Newton’s laws.
Zahaan Bharmal works for Google and is a recipient of Nasa’s Exceptional Public Achievement medal for YouTube Space Lab
