Definition of success varies from person to person and according to age .In the childhood success meant scoring high grades in examinations or being the winner in any sports or painting or writing competition and likewise. Actually not only children but even many men and women correlate success with individual achievement .What we train our children is to achieve more and more. But for what? Money, name , fame , power. Basically these four parameters become our propellers for growth and success in life.
I was also in the same boat. But when I got married and I became a mid-level manager then I realized something…. That my own success and achievement was not giving me joy. I wanted something else. Something was missing. I wanted that the team in my office should win and for that each individual was important and a connection was required. I wanted that all the members of my family should be happy. My children should do well , my husband should be accomplished in his field , my elders in the house should remain in good health and happy. That means only Money. Power, does not define success. The bigger picture shows something else. That success is not individualistic it is collective as we are all connected.
If my near and dear ones are unhappy I cannot be happy. This is the simple formula. Moreover success is not determined only by Money and Power. It is the collective achievement of Loving relationships, well-being of oneself and all connected and progressive continuous growth ie Kaizen , both as an individual and of the immediate society in which one is.In fact, kaizen means everyone involved in making improvements.
If my department or my organization needs to flourish contribution of each individual is meaningful. Cooperation, Well-being , Healthy relationship ,Job satisfaction and Respect are all but parameters and components of a successful life. Same is the case for a happy and successful family life. All the individuals connected to you needs to be successful for a collective success, which actually gives joy and is the pathway to Growth.
So SUCCESS is all about making a difference in people’s lives and in turn our society.. Obama once held the highest office in the land — but he doesn’t equate power with success. At the 2012 Democratic National Convention, First Lady Michelle Obama told the audience that her husband “started his career by turning down high-paying jobs and instead working in struggling neighbourhoods where a steel plant had shut down.” She went on: “For Barack, success isn’t about how much money you make. It’s about the difference you make in people’s lives.” So as Napolean Hill said “It is literally true that you can succeed best and quickest by helping others to succeed.”
The key to success I think is to make a shift in the perspective from I to WE. The key to Japanese success post war is the fact that they are expected to start out with the question “What is good for the country?” rather than the question “What is good for us, our institution, our members, and our constituents?” Their key to success is to sit together with various groups. Their aim, of course, is not to solve anything but to establish mutual understanding and trust.
So success in life is individual growth which incites collective growth based on mutual respect, understanding, collective effort and shift of perspective from benefit of I to benefit of us all.
Success of a society begins with an individual be it man or woman. Success of a country can be truly achieved when we tap into the potential of talent of both the genders.Many women quit their jobs for family obligations.A solution or change in perspective is required as to how to utilize these dormant potential by infusing creative methodologies like work from home and shared responsibility of boh the genders in the homefront.“If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else.” said Booker T. Washington. So we need to lift the women force also and lead our society to success.
So we see success today is redefined by collective achievement of power as well as well being and money as well as respect. It is a shared responsibility of growth of oneself and becoming the catalyst of growth of others to achieve a collective goal. As we are all connected success influences and is infectious. So let us work towards progressive and continuous growth taking small steps towards success of all. I would like to quote Mother Teresa :
“None of us, including me, ever do great things. But we can all do small things, with great love, and together we can do something wonderful.” – Mother Teresa