Success — each one of us wants to be successful. Success is different from different perspectives. The easiest and most quantifiable measure is the acquisition of wealth. And so each of us measures it against preset values. Goals established and chased and achieved — that is success!! I recently read that rather than look at goals one should look at implementing the process. A very different perspective. The process is always under our control. The result may or may not be controllable. As an example the goal could be running the marathon but the process is the daily practise run. The practise run is under our control; the marathon may or may not be achieved.
At this point in my life I want to write every day. And if I can do that for the next year consistently then I shall feel the elation of success.
For the musician it might the next soulful song. For the artist the next canvas. For the teacher the list of all the ones who were able to go past their academic hurdles. For the soldier protecting his front, it is to hold back the enemy. For the street urchin the next meal. For the true seeker — knowledge. For the sadhu in penance on one leg in the mountains — a glimpse of his creator. The list is endless. But can we see past the numbers, the bank balances, the cars, the houses, the factories.
Should we not measure businesses in terms of the jobs created as opposed to the profit. In terms of contribution to the society as opposed to pure economic indicators. In terms of improvements in the environment as opposed to dividend distributed. The primary stakeholders for every business is the community and the planet, not its shareholders. New benchmarks are desperately needed.
Success needs new benchmarks. The current health crisis that the world is facing is a fantastic opportunity to recalibrate the measurement of success. Brings to mind the Italian word, made famous by Elizabeth Gilbert, “attraversiamo” — Let’s cross over. Let us cross over from capitalism to a new model. We need to experiment with a new paradigm. The older ideas of Socialism and Communism have also clearly failed. Socap, short for Social Capitalism, could be an option. Or should we explore the Bhutanese idea of the “Happiness Index”. Surely we should we focus on making life for the inhabitants of the planet better. The “Happiness Index” can take us in that direction. There are so many possibilities for the world of tomorrow. One thing is for sure the benchmarks do need to change.
“To laugh often and love much; to win the respect of intelligent persons and the affection of children; to earn the approbation of honest citizens and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to give of one’s self; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to have played and laughed with enthusiasm and sung with exultation; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived — this is to have succeeded.”― Bessie Anderson Stanley
Written By Mohit Gupta
Week 45, November ‘20
