Pursuit of Success

We all want success. This statement may seem plausible to the majority but I am slightly dubious about the authenticity of it. Almost all have come across certain periods in our lives when questioning the purpose of life became inevitable to us. What is the purpose of our lives? Why were we put on the earth? Do we have a mission we are still unaware of? These and the questions alike help to ward off a cyclone of untold confusions circling in our minds. Answering this ‘why’ is never easy. We need to strike at the root cause in order to find few definite answers. In current era, people are so occupied in meeting their day to day needs and urgent demands that it has diverted their attention from some of the important tasks. Understanding the difference between urgent and important is crucial in order to understand the pursuit of success.
Before delving further, I would like to dig into the term success itself. The word success is derived from the Latin word “succedere” meaning “come close after”. The point is ‘come close after to what’? According to a definition success simply means “accomplishment of an aim or purpose”. This, to say, is the simplest definition of the term under consideration but close to the exact point which I would elaborate a bit later in my argument. Another famous definition of success describes it as “the attainment of fame, wealth or social status. This implies a broader meaning of the term and majority of the people identify it the same way.
The question arises what exactly constitutes success? Is it the mere attainment of an aim or hoarding loads of money or getting socially popular or all of these are essential to acquire in order to be recognized as a successful person? If being wealthy is a measure of success then what do you think about those unhappy snobbish rich men whom no one likes to interact with except out of a necessity or self-interest? If success means a world-wide popular person then what one can conclude from some of the notable film actors who in a state of despair committed suicide? The above mentioned incidents cast a doubt in our minds about the criteria for success.
Do all people need success? Near me, People are more interested in having money but without spending a penny, they want fame without even entering into the game, they want luxurious cars without bearing scars, they want big mansion without formulating statements of mission, they want profitable gains without bothering to take pains. They aren’t willing to pay the price for success because they believe on shortcuts. There are no shortcuts in a life pursuit of collective evolution. They don’t want success actually. All they find irresistible is a need for instant gratification and acceptance of their disguised show of perfection.
Pursuit of success entails a constant growth in one’s circle of influence in which one operates daily and expansion of the current horizons by the power of practical imagination. Breaking free of the fear and jumping out of the comfort zone is the necessary breakthrough required for paving a path towards a durable success. One can see people running after a fad of success now a days. One missing link among this plethora of success hacks and shorthand strategies is a desire and actual practice to be excellent. If someone pursues value and excellence, sooner or later, the secondary benefits like money, recognition and fame will follow. Our desire for self-actualization fuels us to give our best shot regardless of the worsening conditions and imperfections in our own mindset.
Now the question arises what kind of excellence will bring forth the fruition of your dreams? Pursuing excellence in the skill of your choice whether it be technical or soft life skill will pay back in the long run. Excellence in developing character and communication will bring you striking benefits in the intricate web of relationships. Acquiring technical skills in your vocation will broaden the scope for your financial freedom. There are plenty of skills one can acquire but make sure to do a task and attain such a level of proficiency in it that claiming no one else can do that better than you in your surroundings will not be an exaggeration.
What are the ingredients of success which will help us get through the unpredictable journey of excellence leading towards success? Following are the key ingredients for the recipe of success:
Belief
Purpose
Plan
Action
Commitment
Discipline
Acceptance of failure
Self-development
A belief in oneself and divine power, purpose coupled with mission statement, a practicable plan, instant action even when you are not fully prepared to undertake the task, commitment and dedication to your work, discipline to effectively manage time and create a balance between work and leisure, accepting failure because it is inevitable in a pursuit of big success, and a constant urge to incorporate a personal development program in your life are some of the keystones to tread the path of success.
We need to understand the true meaning of success in our lives and make a plan of action including Dos and Do nots of living an abundant lifestyle guaranteeing future success. Without changing our thought patterns and habits the idea of success seems a distant thing. In order to actualize the idea we need to grow on a daily basis so that we could reach the place after moving from the place we are currently standing. To shorten the distance between your current self and future self should be your top priority. Inculcate the idea of success in your thinking daily and reap the benefits of sowing the seeds of success after getting enough maturity in your efforts.