To attain Heaven, one must die – The Price of True Success

Over the years, I've had the privilege of working with incredible teams, each with their own strengths and challenges. But one question I get asked repeatedly is,

?? "Why do you put in so much effort in getting the work done?"

Being detail-oriented and particular about the quality of the final delivery, I pushed my team—not just for the end goal, but for how we reached it. I believe in doing things the right way.

Initially, when my team starts working with me, they often feel overwhelmed, wondering why we focus so much on details. I would pause, smile, and say,

"Swarg paane ke liye marna padhta hai." "To attain Heaven, one must die."

They would shake their heads, confused.

They didn’t get it—until I told them this story.

The King Who Wanted to Enter Swarg Alive

Once upon a time, there was a king. Not just any king—this one had a peculiar dream. He didn’t desire riches or more power. His only wish?

?? To enter Swarg (heaven) alive.

"I want to go to Heaven! Alive!" he declared.

Determined, he performed yajnas and tapasya for decades. He endured storms, sacrificed comforts, and reduced himself to skin and bones.

Finally, the Creator appeared.

"I am happy with your tapsaya. Make a wish, what do you desire?" asked the Creator.

"I want to enter Swarg alive!" said the king.

The Creator frowned, reluctant to grant this boon.

But the king was adamant. Seeing his resolve, the Creator relented, handing him an approval letter.

But he cautioned, "This grants you passage. But remember, rules are rules."

Ecstatic, the king bid farewell to his kingdom and marched toward Swarg.

The Journey to Swarg – And the Harsh Reality

At Earth’s exit gates, two guards stopped him.

"Halt! State your purpose!"

Smirking, he presented the letter. The guards scrutinized it.

"Unusual… but it says you may pass. Go!"

The king grinned. He had outsmarted fate.

?? At Swarg’s entrance, celestial guards blocked him.

"Who goes there?"

Confidently, the king showed his letter. The guards frowned.

"Hold on. We need to check."

A senior officer—a celestial bureaucrat—examined it and shook his head.

"You must die first. That’s the rule."

The king was furious.

"I have the Creator’s approval! I sacrificed for decades! I earned my place!"

The bureaucrat sighed.

"It’s nature’s order, and Swarg’s rules cannot be broken. You cannot enter alive. Go back."

The king was shattered. Defeated, he turned back toward Earth.

?? But at Earth’s entrance, the same guards looked confused.

"Why are you back?"

"Swarg denied me. They said I must die first. Now let me return."

The guards hesitated.

"Uh-oh. This is above our pay grade."

They called the celestial keepers of order. A clipboard-wielding official arrived, listened, and sighed.

"You left Earth alive. You can’t enter back in this form. Entry on Earth is only through birth. Since you’re not dead, you don’t qualify to return."

The king was stuck—neither in Swarg nor on Earth.

Perhaps he remains in limbo, a reminder that half-measures and shortcuts lead nowhere.

Life, Death, and the Journey to Swarg (Heaven)

?? Simply existing—without action or effort—will never get you to Swarg (Heaven).

One truth stood out:

"Swarg (Heaven) jaane ke liye marna padhta hai."

In the corporate world, success isn’t just about talent; it requires persistence, discipline, and resilience.

Just as an athlete endures grueling training before standing on the podium, or an entrepreneur sacrifices comfort to build a thriving business, true achievement demands a metaphorical 'death'—of old habits, complacency, and comfort.

?? Just like a seed must break and die to grow into a mighty tree, success demands the same sacrifice.

Every great achiever—whether an athlete, an artist, or an entrepreneur—has 'died' to their comforts, routines, and failures before they truly thrived.

?? You'll have to do things you don’t like to do so that you can do the things you love when you reach your Swarg (Heaven).

Success isn’t just about dreaming. It demands sacrifices, struggles, and relentless effort.

? People admire success but rarely see the years of toil, failures, and perseverance behind it.

?? Swarg (Heaven) doesn’t come easy.

? You must identify what sacrifices you are ready to make to reach your Swarg (Heaven), because only then will it appear.

? You must 'die' every day—sacrificing comfort, overcoming failures, and pushing forward.

And when you don’t get your Swarg (Heaven), the journey doesn’t stop.

?? You must Reflect, Recreate, and Transform—like taking a 'Rebirth'—to pursue your Swarg (Heaven), your ultimate goal.

Because in the end, only those who sacrifice, struggle, and embrace transformation will ever reach their Swarg (Heaven).

Finding Your RightKlick Moment

Over time, I realized that while I was no seasoned storyteller, my team was open to listening.

Many times, we had a RightKlick moment while discussing this story.

They understood that accolades and recognition don’t come easy.

?? The teams that push themselves hard, who are meticulous in their efforts, often receive the greatest appreciation—their Swarg—for their Tapasya (hard work).

As we engage in this detailed LinkedIn article, here’s something to reflect on:

?? All of us have our unique way of inspiring and connecting with our teams.

Each of us finds our RightKlick moments—those moments of realization that unlock possibilities for our teams.

?? Knowingly or unknowingly, you too must have shared such inspiring RightKlick stories with your teams.

?? If this resonates with you, I invite you to share your experiences.

Let’s learn from each other.

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