Success is eight steps away!

Everybody aspires to become successful, but very few can really achieve success. Mahatma Gandhi once said that what is possible for one is possible for all. If what Gandhiji said is correct, everyone must accomplish great deeds with flying colours. But, that does not happen practically for many people. Why do you think it is so? Do the successful people have a magic wand with them? Have they been created with luck written on their foreheads?  NO! They do have a plan or a secret which they follow diligently. To be able to retain some success secrets in our mind and recall them whenever we wish to, I am giving here eight simple points in reverse alphabetical order – from H to A.

1. Honesty : All human relations depend on honesty. Honest people are considered to be reliable and everyone wants to establish and strengthen bonds with them. Nobody would come near a dishonest fellow. So, the first point in becoming successful is being honest with ourselves and others as well.

2. Gratitude:  Since our infancy we have learnt so many things and achieved a number of considerable deeds. Remembering all of them we must not feel proud of ourselves. It is not our greatness alone.  Without others` contribution we would not have become the ones as we are now. Mother teaches us how to say the first words and to express our basic needs. Father  gives us right direction.The teachers make us knowledgeable. Our classmates and colleagues equip us with necessary social skills.  Can we say that we should  alone be appreciated for all our accomplishments? NO! Showing gratitude towards everyone who may have  contributed directly or indirectly to our achievements is one of the key points in this list.

3. Failure:  We cannot appreciate light if we do not know about darkness. Likewise, if we do not know what failure is, we may not be able to enjoy success in full measure. In a way failure is a stepping stone for success. If we remember our previous successes only  we tend to become very conceited, which is the first step on the stumbling blocks. Hence, we had better keep our past failures on the surface of our memory  rather than our successes. The point is highlighted here to caution you not to be carried away by previous success but to make you careful about lurking failure.

4. Enthusiasm: Enthusiasm is a lot of interest.  Work, study, hobby… anything should be carried on with interest. Some people are found to be doing things dully, with a pathetic aura around them. They cannot enjoy their work nor can they make it successful. As for example, if a child does not have interest in learning cycling or swimming, she can never become proficient in them. Likewise,  many bloggers in blog sphere are not originally authors or poets. But, they have tonnes of enthusiasm in writing, which ultimately makes them successful.

5. Dedication:  Enthusiasm and dedication are like twin brothers. They should go together. After fixing our goal, we must initiate our action plan with a lot of enthusiasm and keep it alive throughout. This is dedication.

6. Challenges: An athlete runs towards the tape. While doing so he has to jump over many hurdles that are kept all along the track. If he gets discouraged on reaching them, he cannot win the event.  On jumping each hurdle, one can see increased confidence in the athlete`s  face. So, take inspiration from this and face challenges with confidence. Then success will never be far away from you.

7. Boomerang: You must know about this weapon. A boomerang looks like a `V`  shaped stick. If you throw it away, it goes towards the target, hits it and comes back to you. Our words and deeds are also like boomerangs. If we behave badly or speak harshly with others, we will get the same kind of response from them. As has been said elsewhere, treat others the way you would like them to treat you.

8. Attitude : Attitude is our response in various situations. Standing in a balcony on the first floor one person sees the mud in the adjacent plot, other person sees the beautiful moon and twinkling stars – how they look at things depends on their respective attitudes. If we develop right attitude, it will be like fragrance added to gold.

So, always remember these eight success secrets.

Attitude

Boomerang behaviour

Challenges

Dedication

Enthusiasm

Failure

Gratitude

Honesty

Say to yourselves A to H and H to A and put them in practice. Success is bound to come your way.

© Dantuluri Kishore Varma