Key Factors in Achieving True Success: An Analytical Exploration
1. Introduction
The proximate reasons for human activity are plain and banal. In a world where worldly success is increasingly understood to be proof of insight or virtue, it might be satisfying to suggest that true success is more an end in itself than a means to anything greater. But this is probably not plausible – human beings do not spend so much time invested in trying to achieve something which brings nothing in its train. In the majority of cases, it is likely that those who seek to be true achievers are animated by a desire to live in an environment where their surroundings, work and remuneration underwrite, consolidate and crystallize a range of values and beliefs. This may be superficial, insofar as when one is comfortable or affluent, it is easier to afford the time to contemplate how one lives. But both contemporary attitudes to worldly achievement and the lived experience of those who have been successful suggest that at issue, for the vast majority, is a life conceived of as successful, characterized by values and virtues that arise from the specific micro-cultures in which the elite dwell.
This is particularly true in a state of advanced globalization, in which internationals seek to find comfort in only those things which are shared. But this is banal; one does not need to read the lectures of the op-ed pages to be aware of this, changed as, perhaps, by the look of the associates who work in modern-day corporations. An entire cottage industry of new age self-help manuals and corporate biographies confirms what we on some level already always knew – that what we think matters. There is no shortage of commentary on these banalities. This essay is an analytical exploration of what those pieces of casual received wisdom reveal about the moral talismans that motivate a good portion of human endeavor.
2. Defining Success and Its Various Dimensions
Because the purpose of this article is to explore recent insights offered by economists in the light of the business strategies and spiritual techniques developed in the Ramakrishna-Vivekananda tradition, let us begin by developing broad and evolutionary definitions of an inspiring and a novel business ethics. These definitions will then guide all our reflections.
In contrast to existing works, a novel business ethics is considered to be inspiring and innovative to the extent it both meets the many modern and ancient ideals identified by economists in their analysis of true success and adopts the unique business strategies and spiritual tools developed through practical human experience over many years by gifted luminaries.
With these principles, beliefs, pioneering standards, and practical business and spiritual tools to guide business enterprises in their search for enduring success, subsequent reflections should form a coherent whole that entrepreneurs, managers, and business executives will want eagerly and expediently to put into operation as soon as is concretely and sensibly.
It is essential for us to proceed along the lines of developing a broad and evolutionary concept of success that leaves plenty of room not only for individual differences to surface but also for man and woman to reach and conquer the full panorama of material and spiritual vistas that diverse targets and stimulating challenges present.
Not surprisingly, a quest of this nature leads us inward toward the heart of the human psyche, a faculty for which the luminaries of the Ramakrishna-Vivekananda tradition have developed a unique range of business supporting strategies while exploring their unique apprehensions of truth, the world, and man.
Only such a multidimensional approach has a chance to unlock the chained light and potential that now exist jointly in decluttered human minds and in all the world’s enterprises that have at some point entrenched themselves within the enlightened folds of an advanced business and spiritual techniques.
Lastly, this article concludes with a reflection on the potential benefits to society partial adoption of this very business approach will create.
3. The Vital Importance of Mindset and Attitude in Achieving Extraordinary Success
In order to achieve extraordinary success, you must be extraordinary. You are more than capable of extraordinary achievement. You are more than capable of extraordinary success. Extraordinary people – those who achieve extraordinary success in every area of life – may initially appear to the untrained eye to be no different than you and me. Yet they think and act very differently than those who often stray far from the path of true success. The crucial unifying characteristic of extraordinary people is not necessarily the flashy resumes, gregarious personalities, or impressive talents they possess, but rather the way they think and what they believe.
How they see the world, how they frame their perception of success, how they process and utilize the information available to them, how they set daily goals, how they approach the educational process, how they deal with and grow from failure, their willingness to take risks, their decision-making skill set, how they maintain respect from others – in short, the type of intelligence they use on a daily basis is unique. These are the factors that truly set extra-achievers apart from others. Unlike formal types of intelligence, this form of “intelligence” is something that is not innate, but developed. The fact of the matter is that the development of an extraordinary mindset, the attainment of an extraordinary attitude toward life and success, and the proper use of both is a matter of choice. Anybody can choose to think differently in order to achieve extraordinary results and anybody can develop the powerful sophistication of his mind. These traits are not gifts handed out at birth. Only a few at birth. They are as much as a state of strength as are muscular attributes of a physically strong athlete.
The amazing truth is that many who have achieved extraordinary success operate with the same set of internal machinery as those who have not. The difference lies in these people’s predispositions to feel comfortable developing that machinery as much as is possible. Developing a sophisticated mindset does indeed require a lot of effort, a lot of hard work, to develop, maintain, and use, but the benefits of such action translate into a much more enjoyable and productive route to success – a more enjoyable and productive route than probably one would ever have imagined. In building and then maintaining the proper frame of mind, one comes to better appreciate the journey of the attaining of success and all that it has to offer. These processes of self-improvement are not so much about changing who you are as they are about convincing yourself to alter the way of which you think about and use the knowledge possessed. The most fortunate aspect of these realizations is that they are not exclusive to a group of the already happy, for the practical case is the same for all seeking extraordinary success.
4. Importance of Personal Development and Continuous Learning
Along with achievements, contributions to the community, and support for societal advancement, all underpinned by foundation values and ethical principles, personal development is a key factor in achieving true success. It should, however, be remembered that while personal achievements like obtaining the highest academic degrees definitely provide personal enrichment and satisfaction, the basis of true success is not what you achieve but how you achieve it – the value that results from the use of your knowledge and capabilities, taking society’s needs into consideration. Thus, in order to accompany professional achievements and contributions to their community, leaders who are committed to society’s advancement must also aspire to developing their personal abilities, widening their personal knowledge, and contribution capability.
In a world in which we become more competitive with each passing day, and in a world in which the speed of change never lets up, the capacity to continuously learn is a true advantage. New challenges and opportunities are unlikely to wait for us to be prepared to succeed. They are more likely to grab us unprepared. If we do not train every day and in every way, how can we be competitive? “Your education is not finished until you die,” stated Isaac Asimov. Continuous training and learning is a solo journey. It should be personalized because each of us has different needs, thus different strengths. No one will ever know you better than yourself. Take personal charge of your life! Only you can build your competences! Develop your knowledge! Furthermore, all personal development is patterned and constructed on beliefs and a value system. This measurement aspect of learning is universal, and it is clear that how we perceive and interpret knowledge is highly situated. We act according to what we believe to be the case. If we believe that knowledge and training are useful to our personal, family, social, and professional lives, we will put in the time and resources, even in terms of sacrifices, to acquire them.
5. Building Strong Relationships and Networks for Sustainable Success
Research has shown that the people an individual associates with in life have a significant effect on his or her level of success in all its dimensions. “Tell me who you affiliate with and I will tell you who you are.” In a synergistic team, each member is not concerned about who gets the credit but, rather, is concerned about the end result. To achieve extraordinary success, it is often helpful to collaborate with other successful people. Andrew Carnegie built his fortune in the steel industry. Later in life, he put together an international team of managers whose compensation was tied directly to their financial results. This management team would not make important decisions without first consulting Andrew Carnegie who, in turn, would seek their counsel as well. The results obtained by this team were unparalleled in the industrial world at the time. Outstanding results can be expected when a team is formed with the expertise needed to get the job done.
The expected result is not always limited by the members of the team. Everyone takes different ideas away from their experiences in life. The talents and strengths of each team member are magnified by the contributions and suggestions of not only the other members of the team, but also by their ideas. Networking has become an extremely important factor in today’s business community. However, the most successful businesspeople recognize that having an extensive network of associates and friends throughout the business and financial world is important both professionally and personally. It is like having an insurance policy for business and life success. No significant achievement and long-term sustained success can best be accomplished alone. Therefore, it is important to establish complementary networks. First, it is important to belong to at least one network of proven high-performance individuals. This may be municipal, regional, national, or international in scope depending on business activities and avocational interests. It is also extremely helpful to be known by the most successful members of at least one high-performance network, and hopefully, to have them as friends.
