Here are my key learnings from the very interesting talk given by Swami Swaroopanand of Chinmaya Mission.
1. Even the most apparently "Successful" person (e.g. CEOs of very successful organisations) when they introspect feel that they are not successful. The feeling of Success is very elusive and very very temporal.
2. Success is inevitably linked to material wealth. Yes, material wealth is one of the measures of success (and in fact Hinduism is the only religion that actually worships wealth as a Goddess) - and which is why people like to flaunt their material wealth. But there are many more - and more important - parameters for defining Success.
3. Some others define Success as "Happiness by Achieving one's goals". Yes, this is a better definition of Success, but still not good enough. We may set goals (e.g. buying a house, getting a promotion etc) - but goals keep stretching as we achieve each milestone - and every time we achieve a goal it does not give us any real feeling of being Successful.
4. The real definition of Success is in the feeling of one's own potential being maximised. Nothing makes a person feel more Unsuccessful than being grossly under-utilised relative to his potential.
5. If a person is stretched to the maximum (in a way that is relevant to his potential/talent), then that itself gives him a Bigger Purpose in Life. This discovery of the Bigger Purpose itself gives a feeling of Success and hence satisfaction. As long as a person is really doing his utmost, then the fruits of the efforts (i.e. the goals) become less important, and the fear of failure vanishes. The ability to take Risks (in line with one's potential) increases.
6. In order to achieve this, one has to get out of the mentality of "Small" thinking and Negativity - hence it is critical that we operate in an environment that fosters confidence, provides encouragement, and is filled with Positivity.
7. The role of Leadership in creating this right environment for fostering Success is therefore crucial. Most people believe that a Leader has to rule by dominance - and dominance does sometimes lead to short term success for a leader. However, in the long term the only leadership style that sustains the feeling of Success is the loving environment where the leader helps identify each of his subordinates' potential, and encourages each person to maximise his potential.
1. Even the most apparently "Successful" person (e.g. CEOs of very successful organisations) when they introspect feel that they are not successful. The feeling of Success is very elusive and very very temporal.
2. Success is inevitably linked to material wealth. Yes, material wealth is one of the measures of success (and in fact Hinduism is the only religion that actually worships wealth as a Goddess) - and which is why people like to flaunt their material wealth. But there are many more - and more important - parameters for defining Success.
3. Some others define Success as "Happiness by Achieving one's goals". Yes, this is a better definition of Success, but still not good enough. We may set goals (e.g. buying a house, getting a promotion etc) - but goals keep stretching as we achieve each milestone - and every time we achieve a goal it does not give us any real feeling of being Successful.
4. The real definition of Success is in the feeling of one's own potential being maximised. Nothing makes a person feel more Unsuccessful than being grossly under-utilised relative to his potential.
5. If a person is stretched to the maximum (in a way that is relevant to his potential/talent), then that itself gives him a Bigger Purpose in Life. This discovery of the Bigger Purpose itself gives a feeling of Success and hence satisfaction. As long as a person is really doing his utmost, then the fruits of the efforts (i.e. the goals) become less important, and the fear of failure vanishes. The ability to take Risks (in line with one's potential) increases.
6. In order to achieve this, one has to get out of the mentality of "Small" thinking and Negativity - hence it is critical that we operate in an environment that fosters confidence, provides encouragement, and is filled with Positivity.
7. The role of Leadership in creating this right environment for fostering Success is therefore crucial. Most people believe that a Leader has to rule by dominance - and dominance does sometimes lead to short term success for a leader. However, in the long term the only leadership style that sustains the feeling of Success is the loving environment where the leader helps identify each of his subordinates' potential, and encourages each person to maximise his potential.
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