Quest for success

Regardless of the field or profession, all are in quest of success, as understood by the pursuer.

So, what is success? And why do each of us want to be successful? Is it a sign of recognition, either socially or financially? Perhaps, yes. On the temporal worldly plane, it is important to be seen by “others” as successful, because it is a badge that allows to meet obligations and to undertake the duty of care, each of us have, both within the limited sphere of immediate family and the extended responsibility as a responsible constituent of the society.

Philosophically, all effort must arrive at some point in life, where the individual questions, what will I do now with success obtained. All wealth amassed stays here, nothing goes to the yonder. The realisation that sets in is, what’s the cost, paid to achieve success of whatever nature it may be or relate to. With pain, the most successful, realise that the cost was paid through, inattention to health, family and well being. Success at this stage of life, takes a totally new dimension, and ushers in a very different definition, to each of us.

Success is relative ... the failure of one; leads to the success of the other! Is that success? Hence, is professional success the outcome of competitive spirit. Competition at what cost must remain supreme in the quest for success. There is nothing immoral in competition; except when the means to achieving a goal are not tainted with morally, socially and financially unacceptable actions.

There is a need to examine and answer to oneself for what objectives success must be had? Is it for recognition, for being in the spotlight, for seeking centre stage or accolades … the motive for wanting to be successful must be clearly established. It is also important to discover the recognition is being sought from whom? And does it bring a significant difference to the career or life in general.

Nothing comes free, the milestones of success in the course of professional journey are obtained through sheer hard work. If the achievement is a cause of mental disturbance, tension and fears, then a critical forensic examination of the “self” must be conducted to discover the quality of inputs in the work undertaken.

Success would cease to be success, if it is done to exceed expectations of others, true success is to win against own-self. Work, when it becomes a drudgery does not yield success, while competing against own-self can inject a therapeutic effect upon dedication and motivation.

Sleep is essential for exceptional performance; and to have sound sleep, how big should the mansion be? How many pillows, cushions and quilts will be needed to have undisturbed sleep? Most tend to forget how the small elements of attitude impact upon our drive for success. In the trade off, the quest may appear as an unhealthy cause. We, the human race, are covetous by nature; however when acquired, we talk about egalitarianism; about creating equilibrium in the division of assets, between feuding, either family members or business associates. Success must not exact a price that takes away the pleasures of everyday life and relationships. In later life, this success hurts the most.

Human greed far exceeds human compassion. Most do not know how much they want … of material possessions. Greed is significantly pronounced in a capitalist economy. “There is no calamity greater than lavish desires … And there is no greater disaster than greed”. The two sources of murdering ventures of success are impatience and greed. The "Seth mentality" prefers and throws weight behind actions that are likely to sustain monopolistic tendencies; the principle in action is to not let others make any successful businesses; hence they give no business to other new entrants to the marketplace. There is no concept of sharing.

While developing a career path, the aspect that demands attention is the striking of balance between needs and accumulation; the built-in accountability process shouldn’t be switched off; in the event of it being in constant mode of sleep, the journey would be towards taking the route that will falsely justify the building of assets beyond means. Greed can lead to fraud, deception and trickery with no remorse to lament. It over a period of time acquires the status of acceptability. For, greed too is an attitude; and it too makes no money, yet provokes actions that may lie outside the ambit of legitimacy.

The financial crisis of 2008 is a testimony that organisations too suffer from the disease of seeking more, based on greed, and that too at a furious speed. The results of such kept reeling upon global markets for the longest times. The question arises why is there a hurry of haste to make abnormal profits? Greed is the simplest answer. The most, in the shortest time. The lack of faith in skills and abilities that have potential to last for long drives this haste.

The confidence that honesty and hard work ensure good and sustainable results is absent; hence pushing for action, by abandonment of discretion to remain on the path of moderation. Every individual and entity desires to live in the “fast lane”; while on the extreme left is the “slow lane”, both have specified speed limits, and these are mostly violated, causing individual and corporate crashes, some of total loss, others of controllable damage. Betwixt lies the “middle lane/road". The middle lane offers moderation, in all its facets.

A manager of understanding, character and calm knows that the road to happiness for himself and the team, is to depend upon themselves alone, seeking no crutches, instead to steadfastly adhere to the ‘wisdom of moderation’.

Those who draw to strike a decent balance between desire for more and the spirit of competition, usually have better results, that have in- built stability.

Competition should be with self and not others; each manager must outperform his/her past results. The master painters produced the best because they competed with their own selves. Competition is important for obtaining the best results. Infact progress isn’t possible without competition, for it allows the discovery of what competitive advantage one may have or may be in lack of it. Losses are caused to individuals and organisations when irreversible positions are taken, which ultimately consign moderate approach to issues, into the backyard of thinking.

Many see moderation as an escapism from realities. Blaming moderate approach for failure to achieve goals is to prove, Benjamin Disraeli’s words, “Moderation has been called a virtue to limit the ambition of great men, and to console undistinguished people for want of fortune or their lack of intellect". Leaders in rush usually push to remain in the fast lane of life.

The moderation principle has been criticised and appreciated, suiting situations and individual experiences. Says Barry Goldwater, “Extremism in the defence of liberty is no vice. And moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue". This establishes when the principle of moderation should be used; proves that it is not meant to apply to all business situations. Since Oscar was truly Wild( Wilde), he saw moderation as fatal … Nothing succeeds like excess” was his mantra.

Material gains obtained through mere sweat and toil, may also be not so sustainable, in comparison to results derived through elements like kindness, love and moderation.

It has been said by men of wisdom, that the principle of moderation must be applied to behaviour, temperament, demeanour, attitudes, etc, but never to “principles”. The later must remain enshrined on the tablet of stone,non erasable and unalterable. In matters of mental and physical health too, it is imperative that leaders and managers remain moderate. No extreme position taking. In issues of mental health, great concern and care must be exercised in controlling conversations; especially conversations with the self, because these lie mostly in the realm of imagination, creating towers of inferno in the mind, causing the mind to be engulfed upon perceived responses from others, to situations, which may have not happened nor are likely to happen.

For physical health, moderation is required in the type and intake of food.

In the working environment, irrespective of it being public or private sector, the management of stress, with focus, is of primary importance for maintenance of good health. In a less stressful environment people usually work in peace and harmony, and this induces greater productivity; accelerated by "esprit de corps". This can only happen within the spirit of moderation.

In the current environment, when the span of attention of almost anybody in the age group of 2-92 years is dwindling into only a few seconds; it is best to thwart the complete surrender to tools of technology. We must use the IT platforms of education and social media with a great sense of moderation. Attitudes give direction to individual careers and organisational successes. If ego is the spokesperson of either the person or the entity then the likely replies from the audience (market) will reflect their averseness to this moral turpitude.

Butter spoils no meat and moderation no cause (Danish proverb). Moderation is the silken string running through the pearl chain of all virtues (Joseph Hall). The middle road or midway is the safest route to remain moderate. It is always easy to be on the extremes of the spectrum of life, however often, it is more difficult to remain and operate within the confines of moderation.

Bertrand Russel says, "Unless a man has been taught what to do with success after getting it, the achievement of it must inevitably leave him a prey to boredom." The toughest and most difficult aspect of material success is that one has to remain successful at all times … there is no end to the quest, if it is based on principle of moderation it has longevity but if it is architectured on the elements of greed, it shall certainly crumble over time.

Leaders and managers must realise that the poise of moderation is an amazing strength to be put on display in everyday interactions. Moderation has guaranteed and sustainable dividends, if applied and followed with focus.

– The writer is a senior banker & freelance columnist