Finding your success
Mani Padisetti
Co-Founder and CEO at Emerging Tech Armoury, AI Consulting + Training Services | A.I. Strategist | Educator | Green Tech + Cyber Specialist | Forbes Technology Council Member
There are many opinions and theories about success – is gaining material wealth a success, a supportive family a success, mastering your spirituality a success, giving back a success, or a mix?
Success may be something we need to define for ourselves.
Richard Shell, author of the book "Springboard launching your personal search for success" has an exercise for us to help decide what success is, on his website https://www.grichardshell.com/book-extras/six-lives-exercise/
It is fascinating that most people selected the story of the stonemason as success, compared to the high-flyers in the business world.
The stonemason had been married for 52 years, had three children (a lawyer, a banker and a homemaker) and seven grandchildren. He has had money problems throughout and was able to build houses for his children.
I guess the stonemason had fulfilment in his life.
As Tony Robbins says, external success without inner fulfilment is a failure.
Heinrich Boell narrated a story in "Anecdote concerning the Lowering of Productivity."
A businessman was walking along the beach and noticed a fisherman sitting on the beach.
He decided to find out why this fisherman was sitting on the beach instead of working harder to make a living for himself and his family.
"You aren't going to catch many fish that way," said the businessman.
"You should be working rather than lying on the beach!"
The fisherman looked up at the businessman, smiled and replied, "And what will my reward be?"
"Well, you can get bigger nets and catch more fish!" was the businessman's answer.
"And then what will my reward be?" asked the fisherman, still smiling.
The businessman replied, "You will make money, and you'll be able to buy a boat, which will then result in larger catches of fish!"
"And then what will my reward be?" asked the fisherman again.
领英推荐
The businessman was beginning to get a little irritated with the fisherman's questions.
"You can buy a bigger boat and hire some people to work for you!" he said.
"And then what will my reward be?" repeated the fisherman.
The businessman was getting angry.
"Don't you understand? You can build up a fleet of fishing boats, sail all over the world, and let all your employees catch fish for you!"
Once again, the fisherman asked, "And then what will my reward be?"
The businessman was red with rage and shouted at the fisherman,
"Don't you understand that you can become so rich that you will never have to work for your living again!
You can spend all the rest of your days sitting on this beach, looking at the sunset. You won't have a care in the world!"
The fisherman, still smiling, looked up and said, "And what do you think I'm doing right now?"
Of course, I am not suggesting that we should give up our work or pursuing external success.
If we enjoy what we already have, there will be fulfilment in our journey to success.
Otherwise, even after we achieve all the external success, life may still be empty and meaningless.
Enjoy your day.
namaste.
?
Public Speaker| Global B2B Conference Organizer of our flagship event | Management Consultant | Corporate Strategy | Solution Provider | Business Process Enthusiast
2 年Mani, thanks for sharing!
Design Thinking for making Marketing Customer Centric|Coalescing Brand and Performance for Customer Lead Business Growth| MarTech and Adtech Expertise to evangelise Customer Journey |Data Intelligence |@IIMB|@MIT
3 年My thoughts Just like everybody has a POV likewise the measure and metrics used success varies which basically stems from the fact what contributes to that sense of fulfillment. For few it is about money, for few it is being with near and dear ones, for few it is about pursuing one's devotion, for few it is about being known. Hence find your happiness and follow it as that is being successful.
Director of Avid Hawks | MBA Graduate
3 年Good read, indeed. Thanks for sharing Mani.
Founder & Men's Health Advocate at Saving Brothers
3 年Really interesting! Thanks for sharing brother Mani Padisetti ??? ????
Experienced Customer Centric Leader with over 20yrs Experience ?? Coach & Capability Expert ?? L&D Professional ?????? Agile Enthusiast ?? Growth & Learning Mindset Advocate ??
3 年Thought provoking, brilliant and awesome ?????? Mani Padisetti