Want Successful Career?

Today I had a discussion with my son, regarding ‘success’. To help him understand how it’s achieved, I used an analogy of travel. I thought many can benefit from such example, so I have described it here.

Analogy

Let’s assume there are two people who have to go from City A to City B. One of them is very well organized while other is not at all. The first one thinks he has to make necessary arrangements prior to travel and the second believes it’s not a big deal and as such doesn’t require preparation. On the day they have to leave their homes, following happens.

Before Travel

One is completely ready; clothes and all necessary things packed in his bag as well as car engine, fuel, and tires checked a day before travel. He also knows what time to leave and which ways to follow. He even has included in his plan where he’ll need to stop on the way.

The other person hurriedly packs things in morning a little before leaving home. He has a rough idea of which road leads to the other city but not completely sure of the path. He also doesn’t think of using a map, believing he can refer to the highway sign boards anyways.

During Travel

The first person leaves home on time and finds some traffic congestion on the way. However, as he knows the alternative ways too, using them he manages to get back to the track once again. He stops on the way for lunch and for refueling his car. He reaches to his destination half an hour late.

The other traveler, not being aware of any alternate route, stays in the queue for an hour, and after getting out of the traffic congestion realizes that the fuel is about to finish and not sufficient to reach to the nearest gas station on the same highway. He takes an exit and finds out one to get his car refueled. He is now taking another path, which is a bit rough terrain, causing the car tire getting flat. The place where he could get it fixed doesn’t accept debit card and the money he has in his hands is only for meals which he pays to mechanic. He finally reaches to his destination but after much hassle.

Question

My son agreed that

• Getting to know the path and its needs are as important as the destination, AND
• Preparation, in form of planning and organizing can lead one to better and comfortable results.

Success in Real Life Scenarios

We all want to be successful in whatever we do, but not everyone follows the path systematically.

If I relate it with the profession I’m in (which is SAP), I see there are many Aspirants who want to be (Successful) Consultants, but practically they don’t even bother to learn anything about the journey, which has many steps and needs. All they have in their minds is the end result.

Questions to ask self

• What exactly I want to be?
• What is needed to be what I want?
• Can I fulfill all requirements?
• Can I perform the job?

Your thoughts?

Don’t you think

• Setting OBJECTIVES
• Making a workable PLAN
• Organizing RESOURCES, and
• Performing required ACTIVITIES …

… are all required, to achieve anything in life?