The Challenge To Succeed
So much has been written about success that one often gets confused about what success is all about. Success is such a personal thing that it may mean different things to different people. Yet we need to have a simple definition which should apply to all successful people and situations. The ultimate purpose of being successful is to take pride in one's achievements and be happy; and I think one of the best description has been put forward by Ralph Waldo Emerson.
"To laugh often and much;
To win the respect of intelligent people
and the affection of children;
To earn the appreciation of honest critics
and endure the betrayal of false friends
To appreciate beauty;
To find the best in others;
To leave the world a bit better, whether by
a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition;
To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived;
This is to have succeeded."
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Here is the simplicity with which such a complex subject like success has been explained . If we just analyze every line we would realize that each aspect adds up to a value leading up to a successful life.
And this is the challenge of success. To have such values as to 'laugh often' or 'to find the best in others' is being successful. So simple yet when we look at ourselves and all around us we will find very few people laughing often or appreciating beauty.
The other day I met a young person working for a social organization on lowly wages hardly eking out a decent living. But what I found amazing was he talked very positively and with love to everyone he met, and he met a lot of people on our short walk. There was no bitterness in him because of his economic status nor any disgust for his work which paid him low wages. He did his work with great love. When I praised him for his positive and sunny nature he was thrilled and became a great friend though we had just met an hour back and went out of the way to help me with my assignment.
It is often the most difficult thing to praise anyone. We may admire so many people and their work but fail to give credit openly or acknowledge and praise the persons concerned.
This is what I did and it was a win win day for both of us. Now let us just think about how much success can be achieved in a day if we follow all of Emerson's success formula.
The challenge of success is to follow the simple values. The few simple things in life will always account for the major successes in our life. It is not to suggest that there are only these simple ideas that would affect our successes but it is our focus on the simple things that will have the greatest impact in our lives. What we read above of Emerson's words are proven wisdom that have flowed down for centuries but yet retained their ageless and timeless relevance.
While success training is becoming more and more complex with new programs with fancy success matrixes or best sellers being touted as the ultimate answer, hitting us everyday, I invite you all to look at the challenge of understanding the simple yet powerful wisdom of the the great thinkers such as Emerson.
About The Author
R.G. Srinivasan is a certified trainer and a management consultant. He is the author of e-books, publishes 3 blogs on health, Home Business and management. He is also a widely published author. Check out his blog at http://home-businessresources.blogspot.com
 Google News Updated : Tue, 14 Oct 2008 11:56:09 GMT Asian, European Markets Continue Upbeat Rally - Washington Post
Washington Post - By Blaine Harden TOKYO, Oct. 14 -- Feverish buying in Japan on Tuesday replaced last week's market panic, as the benchmark Nikkei stock index soared to its largest-ever percentage gain in a single day, up 14.15 percent -- part of a global rally in ... Video: Asia Markets Mostly Up Monday World Markets Reflect Growing Hope Publ.Date : Tue, 14 Oct 2008 10:11:14 GMT Berlusconi Shares Investor Pain With $2 Billion Loss (Update2) - Bloomberg
Bloomberg - By Andrew Davis and Lorenzo Totaro Oct. 14 (Bloomberg) -- Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi promises Italians they won't lose ``even a euro'' of their bank accounts in the current credit crisis. Video: Bush Says He Will Help US Banks Bush To Speak About $250 Billion Banking Rescue Plan Monday Morning Publ.Date : Tue, 14 Oct 2008 09:46:59 GMT Cambodia: Thailand withdraws troops from border - The Associated Press
The Associated Press - PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) - Thai troops retreated from a disputed border zone Tuesday, a Cambodian general said, averting a possible military clash after Cambodia's prime minister issued an ultimatum to Thailand to withdraw by midday. Thai army to maintain troops in disputed area Thailand, Cambodia spar over border troop positions Publ.Date : Tue, 14 Oct 2008 09:51:31 GMT North Korea to resume nuclear dismantlement - The Associated Press
The Associated Press - SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - North Korea planned to resume dismantling its nuclear program Tuesday for the first time in two months, days after the United States removed the communist regime from a terrorism blacklist as a reward under a disarmament pact. IAEA: N. Korea disabling set for Tuesday North Korean foreign minister set for nuclear talks in Moscow Publ.Date : Tue, 14 Oct 2008 09:11:42 GMT Milk, Sunshine Each Day Keep the Doctor Away - Washington Post
Washington Post - ยท Kids from newborns to teenagers should take twice as much Vitamin D as previously recommended because it may help prevent serious disease, a leading medical group said yesterday. Video: HealthWatch More tenacious about vitamin D Publ.Date : Tue, 14 Oct 2008 06:17:28 GMT Kashkari Leaps From Obscurity to Lead Role in US Bank Rescue - Bloomberg
Bloomberg - By Robert Schmidt and Rebecca Christie Oct. 14 (Bloomberg) -- Minutes before Neel Kashkari's public debut as the chief of the US Treasury's financial rescue plan, he sat in a hotel lobby in Washington, unrecognized by many of the international bankers ... What Treasury is planning After Historic Rally, Feds To Buy Bank Ownerships Publ.Date : Tue, 14 Oct 2008 07:57:34 GMT House Race Is Shaken by Report of an Affair - New York Times
New York Times - By IAN URBINA WASHINGTON - The Florida congressman who succeeded Mark Foley after he resigned because of a sex scandal is now embroiled in a sex scandal of his own, and has requested a Congressional ethics investigation to clear his name. A Florida (House) Bombshell House to investigate lawmaker for alleged affair, ethics lapse Publ.Date : Tue, 14 Oct 2008 03:20:36 GMT More Web Site Traffic |
PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts,
Websites, and more... Today, August 22, 2005, I am clean and sober for... Read More Don't let anyone kid you. The road to self improvement... Read More Confident Expectation! The feeling of 'confidence' is the assurance that... Read More In America, we have a saying: The finer things in... Read More As we progress into the year, it is necessary for... Read More Are you a procrastinating perfectionist? I once read an article... Read More Direct Answers - Column for the week of July 14,... Read More "Why go and reinvent the wheel?" It's a question that's... Read More At some stage of living your life you will ask... Read More "The scars you acquire while exercising courage will never make... Read More *In the last couple of months, I have been fortunate... Read More What kind of bad habits do you struggle with? Most... Read More Your Spirit is continuously beaming communications to you. As long... Read More We all assume that making choices is a simple process.... Read More Why would we need to examine our lives? What benefit... Read More "Hope is the thing with feathers That perches in the... Read More (excerpted from The Challenge to Succeed series)Two thousand years ago... Read More It is time to take responsibility for our actions and... Read More Direct Answers - Column for the week of June 23,... Read More Recently a romantic relationship came to an end and I... Read More Did you ever think that you are not playing the... Read More Two years ago I was in a wheelchair and told... Read More (excerpted from Leading an Inspired Life)Pity the man who has... Read More Never underestimate the power that comes from following your passion.... Read More Practising extreme self-care in our life involves practising good "daily"... Read More
Adsense
websites
You Dont Find All Drunks in the Gutter: The Story of a Functional Alcoholic!
Don?t Give Up!
Delay Can Reveal Doubts
The Finer, and Finest, Things in Life
Charge Your Imagination (3)
The Procrastinating Perfectionist
Walking The Walk
Why Not Reinvent The Wheel?
Anamchara - Living a Meaningful Life
Courage That Changes Your Life
How I Get Joy as a Value
Struggling With Addictions
Spirits Language: How to Tell Whos Who in Your Inner Conversations
Choicemaking: Self-Help Secrets Revealed
Does Introspection Assist in Self Progression?
Keep Hope Alive
Labor That Works Miracles
Are You Taking Responsibility?
Misplaced Allegiance
The Bright Side of Loneliness
Play a BIGGER role in life!
Stay Inspired
Where Do You Go For Your Intellectual Feast?
Giving It Your Best - The William Hung American Idol Success Story
Create 10 Delightful Daily Habits
Affordable and Reliable Web Hosting Starting at $4.49/Month
Hope in Humanity
Let us renew our hope in humanity. It's so easy... Read More
Listening to Your Inner Voice May Save Your Life
"I was washing my breakfast dishes one morning when it... Read More
Anchors Away!
If we want to fill our heads with the doom... Read More
Growing From Good To Great
I have never been fond of white-water rafting, probably because... Read More
My Next Year With Jesus (Joyful Reflections On My Walk With The Lord)
The one question I keep coming back to is..."Am I... Read More
Starting A New Disaster Relief Program
I believe that it is an amazing time in our... Read More
Stand Up!
One of the most undervalued blessings is God's will to... Read More
Charge Your Imagination (2)
As year 2004 winds up and professionals and corporate bodies... Read More
Anamchara - Making Sense of Life
Many successful persons advise you start your day with a... Read More
When Failure is a Gift
I wanted, for many many years, to be a mystery... Read More
Looking for a Better World - What Every Person Can Do!
Each night, when I put my head on the pillow... Read More
Best Friends
Do you ever need to have your batteries "re-charged", or... Read More
Three Amigos
I feel rather foolish writing this letter, but I need... Read More
Courage That Changes Your Life
"The scars you acquire while exercising courage will never make... Read More
Mitigating Factors
Direct Answers - Column for the week of September 30,... Read More
Two Drops Of Water
Direct Answers - Column for the week of June 17,... Read More
Flaming Fire Within Our Bones
Jeremiah was certainly one of the most distinguished notables of... Read More
Comfort and Achievement
I'll share with you one of my deepest insights about... Read More
Moneys Sad Lack of Intrinsic Value
A good number of my columns deal with finances and... Read More
Emancipation
Direct Answers - Column for the week of September 8,... Read More
Need A Boost? Take a Look at How Far Youve Come
Too many of us are too hard on ourselves, always... Read More
Seven Things You Must Give to Others if You Want to Achieve Success!
A major part of the process of achieving success and... Read More
Changing Course
Direct Answers - Column for the week of March 17,... Read More
Launch Yourself Into Living
Memorial Day weekend, 2004, found my wife and I along... Read More
Heavy Weather Guide
Direct Answers - Column for the week of April 26,... Read More
Inspirational |