No one likes to admit this, or even write about it. But one of the biggest motivators of successful people is revenge.

If you are around enough successful people long enough, and they open up to you, a common theme is the impact of revenge on their success path.

Most of the time, it is fairly low key…”my high school guidance counselor told me I would never amount to anything,” but often it is offered with a certain amount of payback in mind, “my dad was lazy and we never had anything nice at home, so I wanted to do better, to live a better life.”

My friend Toby Keith, even sings about revenge as a motivator:

Toby Keith – How Do You Like Me Now?

I was always the crazy one who broke into the stadium And I wrote your number on the fifty yard line You were always the perfect one and a valedictorian So under your number I wrote call for a good time I only wanted to get your attention but you over looked me somehow Besides you had too many boyfriends to mention and I played my guitar too loud Chorus: How do you like me now How do you like me now Now that I’m on my way Do you still think I’m crazy standing here today I couldn’t make you love me But I always dreamed about living in your radio How do you like me now?! When I took off to Tennessee I heard that you made fun of me You never imagined I’d make it this far Then you married into the money girl Ain’t it a cruel and funny world He took your dreams and he tore them apart He never comes home and your always alone And your kids hear you cry down the hall Alarm clock starts ringin’ who could that be singin’ It’s me baby with your wake up call Chorus 2x Tell Me Baby! I will preach on!