Every living soul wants to be successful. Ask anyone to describe success.
Every living soul wants to be successful. Ask anyone to describe success. The result will be utter confusion. Little do we know what success is? The definition is alterable each day suiting to the then need and requirement. Not having and then finding enough money to pay to the doctor for mother’s ill health condition could be the greatest success. But to those who possess the requisite amount this act may not give them a feeling of success. So success is an extremely relative term.
Generally we feel that those who are recognised as men of attainment, accomplishment, conquest, victory, triumph, learning, knowledge, skills, power, talent and genius are successful people. Life is actually what you wish to make of it. The correct foundation and determination of the right course will force all elements of nature to achieve true success. Failure with honor is far superior to success by cheating.
Success is such a misunderstood concept. In my conversations with younger colleagues, I am asked the dreaded and the most beaten question, ‘do you find yourself successful and how did you get it?’ The question here invariably is relating success to the holding of a position or an office; or it could be because of the fanciful vehicles being in use or it could be because of a perceived large balance (credit only!) in their bank accounts. But is this success?
I retort, how do you define success? The answers are as many and as varied as the audience. Each according to his present economic state. Each according to his mental growth. Each according to the narrow or widest limits on the horizon of imagination.
Success in life cannot be restricted to a single facet. It is wide and all encompassing including various types and nature of relationships. These range from being parents, spouse, an ordinary citizen and a co-worker to many. It is said, success is getting what you want; happiness is wanting what you get. Here is the dilemma. We often tend to confuse that success leads to happiness and take the two as either synonymous or complimentary to each other. Nay, they are distinct. Bill Gates and now Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook) donated out their personal net worth towards charity. Getting to that stage of having billions of dollars could be classified as ‘successful pursuit of business’ but only in ‘giving’ have they found ‘happiness’.
To ‘give’ there is no such need to be in possession of material wealth. The continuous ‘giving’ of such inexhaustible resources of intangibles like love, compassion, empathy, care, concern and affection brings happiness. Divinity in its divine prudence gives the ‘tangibles’ which inherently are limited to only a few but to all human kind, it gives no fathomable or restricting resources of ‘intangibles’. All are blessed equally with these elements. It therefore follows that happiness is not dependent on success. Infact being happy is to be successful.
Nothing is as impudent as success. Even fools seem wise by some stretch of their respective definitions. The elements of economic well-being in today’s world, has become an important ingredient to be counted as successful. Said an employer, personal appearance is a helpful factor in business success. Retorted the employee, ‘yes and business success is a helpful factor in personal appearance.’ The need for achieving a minimum status of being a self-propelling economic entity cannot be under estimated. So to taste this type of success, toil, hard work, passion is important elements to possess and deploy. No harm to climb the corporate ladder, but begin with the first rung on it.
Success is not a single jackpot hit. It is a serious effort towards active and progressive cultivation of skills and talent. E.R Brown lists seven ‘S’ for success. These are sincerity, simplicity, serenity, service, sacrifice, selfishness and stewardship. I draw the attention of my readers that none of these traits are truly quantifiable and hence are in the realm of ‘intangibles’. Success must be seen only in the context of achieving anything worthwhile only through the route of honesty.
Success is toil- its economic results should never be confused as success itself. ‘I know that unremitting attention to business is the price of success but I don’t know what success is’. (Charles Dudley Warner Backlog Strides- 1873). So focused work is an absolute necessity in life but that work is not to be seen as standalone success, it must necessarily lead to higher aspects of life and living.
In taking a cue from Rousseau’s thought, if success is to have courage to meet failure; then acceptance of failure represents a successful mind. Success is the gradual discovery of one’s best talent, skills, attitudes. Writes the celebrated poetess, Emily Dickson, ‘success can be lifelong goal and objective. For sure, keeping success consistently is the hardest thing to do.’
Narrated a private banker in private conversation: For years I was in my place of business by sunrise and often did not leave it for fifteen or eighteen hours. Let not then any youth be discouraged if he has to make his own living or even to support a widowed mother or sick sister or unfortunate relative; for this has been the road to eminence of many a proud name.’ No matter the difficulties, resoluteness of purpose will help surmount the most difficult terrains of life’s path.
Success is relative-dynamic and changing. There is no finish line to cross- it is a continuous trek and journey. Since there is no destination, there is no arrival time! You get it now. You could choose to get it later. It is all in the attitude. Do the right thing and feel the joys of success. The deed is everything, the glory naught (Goethe). To do more for others than for yourself is indeed success.
Robert Louis Stevenson wrote,’ that man is a success who has lived well, laughed often and loved much; who has gained the respect of intelligent men and love of children; who has filled his niche and accomplished his task; who leaves the world better than he found it, whether by an improved poppy, a perfect poem or a rescued soul; who never lacked appreciation of earth! Beauty or failed to express it; who looked for the best in others and gave the best he had.’ Notice it is all about ‘intangibles’ and by intrinsic nature they have no form, shape, size or weight and hence non quantifiable.
There is only one success to spend your life as you want it to be. He that lies on the ground can never fall. Such is a happy and successful person.
The writer is a senior banker
