COMMENT
This piece is dedicated to all those who are in quest of success. I am approached by both the younger and the not so younger colleagues to define for them some secrets of success. The question is obviously based on misbelief that those who get to sit at the apex of the hierarchy are naturally to be classified as being successful. Nay, it is a misplaced thought. There is no precise definition of success. Like any other abstract in life, it is not possible to put ‘success’ in the straight jacket of a definition. It means different things to different people and is different in relation to a life span. A moment of success can easily be followed by a long run of failure. We all come across people who are very successful in their professional lives, but utter failures in personal life. And vice versa too.
A little deviant description of success, I read, says, ‘success is feminine and like a woman, if you cringe before her she will override you. So the way to treat her is to show her the back of your hand. Then maybe she will do the crawling’ (William Faulkner). Isn’t it futility of living to be in pursuit of the unachievable? Success is honest achievement of purpose. So if the purpose is had, then success is had too. A fool’s definition of success will have within its implication of limited thought and experience.
Life is about facing up to opposition, strong head-winds, extreme hardships and to then be in possession of the nerves to handle it. ‘The darkest nights make the brightest stars, grapes are best when pressed; spices smell sweetest when pounded; storms make mighty oaks spread their roots among the rocks; gold looks the brighter after scouring; glow worms glisten best in the dark; juniper smells sweetest in the fire; pomander becomes most fragrant when chased; the palm tree proves the better for pressing.’ Kites only rise up against the wind. For any type of success, work and hardship, are major tools to deploy. Politicians in particular in their either quest for power and pelf or for the strength of their conviction ignore blatantly their families, consequently, we have in history great leaders and politicians but very poor parents. Pause. Ask yourself is that success?
King Edward VIII in his address to the nation when he chose to abdicate had this to say, ’you all know the reasons which have impelled me to renounce the throne. But I want you to understand…. That I did not forget the country or the empire, which that I have for 25 years tried to serve.
But you must believe me when I tell you that I have found it impossible to carry the heavy duty burden of responsibility as King as I would wish to do without the help and support of the woman I love. This was thing I had to judge entirely for myself. The other person most nearly concerned tried up to the last to persuade me to take different course. I have made this the most serious decision of my life, only upon the single thought of what would in the end be best for all.’ He married the American divorcee Wallis Simpson and died many years later, childless and remorseless! Happiness was his lot. The love and not the crown. Isn’t this success?
Read the life of generals and conquerors who get so puffed up with military successes but later in life they end in depressive state of mind of having ordered and seen from close quarters the killing of innocent men, women, and children. Truly this is not success. So what is?
Is it good enough to conclude that life is always part success and part failure! Or should success encompass the complete elements of body, mind, heart and spirit? Having a healthy body but lacking spirituality is not success. An impressive intellect that is devoid of heart, isn’t success. Nor a thinking mind expunged of spirit is success. It is the total and complete self that must work jointly and in absolute harmony and unison to be able to arrive at the door of ‘complete success.’
No worldly adornment or allurement is a sure recipe to achieve the status of being successful. Infact at best the sacrifice of the worldly gains can give a sense of success. In more than one-way, selflessness, may lead to success.
In recognising success, seek always to differentiate between the opposite poles of thought, ‘what can I get’? to ‘what can I give’? Between these two opposing extremes, is the journey of life; the oscillation must remain in control, any swing to ‘what can I get?’ will over time lead to misery and unhappiness- within the coveted materialism is the hidden path towards success! You have to sacrifice materialism. ‘Not in the clamour of the crowded street, not in the shouts and plaudits of the throng but in ourselves are triumph and defeat’ (H.W Long Fellow).
‘Success abides longer among men when it is planted by the hand of God.’ (Ode-‘s Pindar). A Khematic saying is if the social order judges’ success by material gain, the most successful will be the most corruptible and selfish. Isn’t that true, today? Look around at our country’s political, economic and social landscape- who is held and considered as ‘successful.’? But is that success?
Success is when you submit to the ideals of your dreams and convictions. Success of any nature and quality must come at a time in life when it is endurable.
Measure if you are successful as a professional, father, mother, wife, husband, son, daughter, neighbour, citizen and all the etc. etc… failure in any of these roles is an indictment that proves success to such has remained elusive.
Rousseau had remarked, ‘success calls for love, joy, optimism, confidence, serenity, poise, faith, courage, cheerfulness, imagination, initiative, tolerance, honesty, humility, patience and enthusiasm.’ Further he says ‘success is relative and individual and personal.’ Success cannot be a single destination it can only be a long meandering journey. Indulgence in everyday rat race, still leaves you as a rat.
‘He has achieved success who has lived well, laughed often and loved much…who has filled his niche and accomplished his task; who has left the world better than he found it whether an improved poppy, a perfect poem, or a rescued soul (Bessy Stanley).
Personally, I believe that as professionals, with personal and corporate responsibility to fulfil, we must strive for material success, whilst keeping a very focused attitude towards, the ultimate inspiring belief, that Success in the here and in the Hereafter is complimentary and not in conflict. It is best to seek motivation towards success, by verse No. 9 of Surah-e-Al Taghabun, ‘The Day that He assembles you (all) for a day of assembly- that will be a day of mutual loss and gain (among you), and those who believe in Allah and work righteousness- He will remove from them their ills, and He will admit to Gardens beneath which Rivers flow, to dwell therein for ever; that will be the Supreme Achievement.’ Success, my dear readers, is ‘Fouzul Azeem’. Aren’t we all searching for success at the wrong place?
The writer is a freelance columnist
