Success could be a relational word to different people. People define success independently, base on emotion, ideology, achievement and purpose. According to Jason Zasky - “Success is in the eye of the beholder. What one person considers a success might be an object of failure to someone else. Success is defined by one’s expectations.” But I will be considering success in this context as “the ability to attend, achieve or accomplish a set goal or target despite failures and discouragement.” While the word ‘strategy’ in the other hand, is defined according to Wikipedia as “a high level plan to achieve one or more goals under conditions of uncertainty”.
A lot of research has been made on the subject of success and
failure. The secrets of success can be learnt from the life stories of
successful people. Successful people have certain qualities in common no matter
which period of history they lived. Success leaves clues. If we identify and
adopt the qualities of successful people, we too shall be successful.
Similarly, there are characteristics common to people who are
not successful. If we avoid those characteristics, then we shall not be
failures. Success is not a mystery. It is simply the result of consistently
applying some basic principles. The reverse is just as true: failure is simply
a result of making a few mistakes repeatedly.
MAJOR OBSTACLES TO
SUCCESS
Though, there are many of common obstacles to success, but we
shall however consider a few of them.
Lack of Persistence: When problems seem insurmountable,
quitting may look like the easiest way out. It is true for every marriage, job,
ministry and relationship. Winners are struck but not destroyed. We all have
had setbacks in life. But failing does not mean we are failures. Persistence
represents a strong will to succeed. The total secret of success lies in
persistence and resistance.
Lack of Priority: When we don’t have our priorities
right, we waste time, not realizing that time wasted is life wasted.
Prioritizing requires discipline to do what needs to be done rather than taking
action base on our moods and fancies. Success does not come by reading or
memorizing the principles that lead to success, but by understanding them and
setting your priorities to apply them.
Looking for Shortcuts: Basically, “there is no free lunch”,
means that you don’t get something for nothing. In order words, you get what
you put in. if you don’t put much into a project, you won’t get much out of it.
Many times we look for the easier way, which most often ends up being the
tougher way.
Lack of Understanding Nature’s
Laws: Life in its real sense is governed by laws. It’s
our responsibilities to understand and identify these basic laws as well as its
application. Success is a matter of laws and we are referring to the laws of
nature. In order to succeed, we need to understand the laws of cause and effect
and the relationship between actions and results. For every effect, there is a
cause. The law of cause and effect, of sowing and reaping.
Unwillingness to Plan
and Prepare: Most
people spend more time planning a party or event than planning their lives.
Preparation means learning from our mistakes and having the courage to face
defeat without feeling defeated. Weak efforts produce weak results.
Inability to Recognize Opportunity:
One of the reasons for this could be our
irrational behavior or approaches towards situations. Opportunity can come
disguised as obstacles. That is why most people don’t recognize them. Note, the
bigger the obstacles, the better the opportunity. “Ability to stay alert and approach
every situation either good or bad with a positive mindset should be encouraged
to ensure success.”
Not Learning From Past Mistakes:
Some people live and
learn, and some only live, wise people learn from their mistakes-wiser people
learn from other people’s mistakes. Our lives are not long enough to learn only
from our own mistakes.
How To Overcome
Obstacles
The biggest obstacle to achieving success is most often
ourselves, the environment and the people surrounding us: How often have you
thought about doing something challenging and find yourself saying, “I’ll never
be able to achieve that”! More often, it is the lack of support from those
closest to you, your family and friends, who play the critical role in halting
a challenge before it has ever begun.
The following are sure strategies to overcome obstacles;
-
Identify
the obstacle
-
Set
achievable goals
-
See
beyond the limit
-
Focus
on the goals
-
Get
to the root of the obstacle
-
Reframe
your obstacles as opportunities
-
Be
patient/open minded
Requirements for
success:
Desire: A young man once asked Socrates the
secret to success. Socrates told the young man to meet him near the river the
next morning. They met, Socrates asked the young man to walk with him toward
the river when the water got up to their necks, Socrates took the young man by
surprise and dunked him under the river. The boy struggle to get out but
Socrates was stronger and held him down. When the boy started turning blue,
Socrates raised the boy’s head out of the water. The first thing the young man
did was to gasp and take a deep breath of air. Socrates asked, “What did you
want the most when you were under the water”. The boy replied, ‘Air’ Socrates
said, “That is the secret of success.” When you want success as intensely as
you wanted air underwater, then you will have it. There is no other secret. The
motivation to succeed comes from the burning desire to achieve purpose.
Napoleon Hill wrote, “Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, the
man can achieve.” A burning desire is the starting point of all accomplishment.
A weak desire cannot produce great results.
Character: character is the sum total of a
person’s values, beliefs and personality. It is reflected in our behavior and
our actions. The road to success has many pitfalls. It takes a lot of character
not to fall into them. Character is a combination of integrity, conviction,
courage, loyalty and respect.
Get a Mentor: A mentor is a teacher. A person whose
hindsight can become your foresight. Look for someone who can mentor you. A
good mentor will guide and give direction, whereas a bad mentor will misguide
you.
In summary, chasing success and failure is a game in which
the outcome can be lame. Therefore, if success
is what you seek after, don’t let failure make you give up on succeeding. Why
don’t you take fate in your hands? Constantly think of things that give you
motivation. Consider those thinks that give you joy and energy. Fulfillment of
your dreams in life requires bravery. Quitting cannot be anywhere near an
option to be considered. It doesn’t really matter how many times failure had
knocked you down the ladder of life. I remember saying to myself, “If life
situations push me down seven times, I will in a quick succession bounce back twenty
times.” Rising up is a trait of the strong whereas, giving up is equally a
trait of the weak.
I’ve learnt to draw my strength and courage from Jacob’s
strong will and determination to success despite broken thigh following a
prevailing moment with God, (Gen. 32:24-29). You must get up and stand tall
every time you fail and take a fall. You must push on and continue the fight.
Give no occasion to regrets and conclusions after failure. Keep trying again
and again, with all your might. Never give up. Never quit trying. Give life
your everything, to the last bit. Don’t hold it back, because your next move
could be the desired ‘Destination’.
Happy New Week!
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