SUCCESS = COLLABORATIONS

I just finsihed a workshop at Port Blair. We were some 40 delegates from 15 institutions who are working on biodiversity of Andaman and Nicobar Seas. Our objective was to conceptualize, and establish the "Andaman and Nicobar Ocean Biogeographic Information System (ANOBIS)". It was a great success by many standards - for the first time I steered the meeting where not only disucssion but working agenda, implementation plans were discussed and agreed upon. Infact, one of the delegate was mentioning that this first of the conclave of researchers on the island. I wonder "why this meeting was a success?"

I think one of the basic reason was that organizers collaborated with others. We invited people with diverse backgrounds and opinions together at one hall. We listened to their views, we gave them enough space to share their thoughts. I think people would join in your dream if you collaborate with them, by keeping their interest in mind and respecting their views. Collaborations is the key to success. It is highly impossible to be successful on your own. Even if you claim you alone are responsible for your success - it is not true. There are many people who have contributed to your success directly or indirectly without claiming that they have contributed. Think of parents, teachers, critics, organizations you worked / working, spouse, and kids who have been responsible for what you are today. There is nothing like individual success. It is a collaborative phenomenon. Quicker you realise easier would be your journey of success. Hence be collaborative and complementary in nature. Hence,

SUCCESS = COLLABORATIONS

SUCCESS = DEDICATION

Last night, after a long gap I was watching Naach Baliye 2 on the in-flight video entertainment program on my flight from Pune to Chennai. I was amazed with energy levels with which these celebrity couples were dancing. Many of them are not known for dancing skills – but you could gaze the hard n smart work that they have put in for their performances.

While watching their performances it just occurs to me that these individuals are successful because they are dedicated to their cause. They are dedicated not only 100% but also multiple of 100%. Success is all about being dedicated to the cause. All successful people are so very dedicated that they walk the cause, talk the cause, and live the cause for which they are working. They rather prefer to go through temporary hardship for their to achieve their destination of success. It is their dedication to a cause makes them so strong, determined to overcome all the hurdles.

Their ability to visualize the end result of their cause makes their determination rock solid, just unshakable. Mahatma Gandhi’s determination for liberated, democratic India was so strong that it he could withstand all the hurdles because he has foreseen the liberated and democratic India, even before the struggle started.

From my own experiences, I have realized that whenever, I am committed to a cause, dedicated for my visualized success, I have emerged as a winner. My commitment to a cause have always channelized my energy and thought process so that I could take appropriate and right steps in right direction. This has made me to live my journey to those successes – how so ever small and big they are in their magnitude. Thus –

SUCCESS = DEDICATION

SUCCESS = Being SELF RESPONSIBLE

I often come across frineds, colleagues, and acquintances including my students who quite reqularly cribb that inspite of being positive they are are not successful? This makes me to think "Is it only enough to be positive to be successful?". Being positive by thought and attitude is just a beginning and probably very first step towards successful life. However, it would not gurantee success unless one does not act with game plan. Thus one of the basic key factor to success is weather you assume self responsiblity or not? If you are not assuming self responsibility for your success, your ladder of success is leaning against the wrong wall.

Success is an ongoing process and it does not happen at one single day - this also means that as long as you donot become 100% committed to your success and take 200% self responsibility - success would always stay away from you. Once you take self responsibility - there is bound to be personal growth. Personal growth would lead you to achieve your dreams and goals. Self resposnsibility is accountability to success. As you accept self responsibility for each of the action and its output, you would be able to introspect about +ve and -ves of your each action, and thus can make corrective changes. As George Will said "Success goes to those who are paying attention, day by day". This is because "Success is a continuing process that requires consistent efforts", and self responsibility encourages you to do those consistent efforts.

When we become self responsible, we move ourselves into a group of more highly developed individuals. This leads your to highest levels on the ladder of success. Thus,

SUCCESS = being SELF RESPONSIBLE.

Success = Working on NEGELECTED issues

Yesterday, I had a colleague of mine with whom I was discussing about how to be successful? During the course of conversation I said, it is easy to climb the ladder of success if you work on issues, challenges, and areas which are often neglected by masses. It made me to think for a while analyze the success of so many great men and women of excellence. Most of these visionaries were regarded as successful because primarily they undertook issues, challenge; and chose areas of operations which others believed to be not very important. Late Savitribai Phule believed in educational uplift of women and perused it in spite of opposition by many. Mahatma Gandhi took up issue of non-violence and freedom which many thought as impossible to achieve. Mother Teresa plunged into caring for orphaned kids. Baba Amte is working untiringly towards health care and rehabilitation of leprosy patients.

In self help guru Shiv Khera's terms these individuals did not do different things but they did things differently. They could succeed in their pursuit because they believed in their hearts that these causes though neglected by society and masses are significant ones to handle. Thus, if you believe in any issue, or challenge that many others feel not so very important, please analyze it critically and you would realize that there is great potential to succeed and climb the ladder of success. Thus,

SUCCESS = Working on NEGLECTED Issues.

SUCCESS = Building (+ve) Relationships

I was chatting with one the vendor who supplies us stationary and he was narrating me how successful he has been in his business. During the conversation one thing he mentioned that strikes me – he said “He do business with people, and thus rather than being just supplier he attempt to connect with people, and build long lasting positive relationships with them. Business just follows!”. When I think on this – I realize that how powerful this statement is! If we closely watch all successful persons – one thing is common amongst them is they have build strong relationships with many more people. They are able to connect to people across cross section of society with ease – and thus they are successful.

I know Mr. Nair for past 6 years since I joined the National Chemical Laboratory, Pune. He is supplier of office and computer stationary and also provides conference kits. However, over these past 6 years this acquaintance has grown beyond vendor-customer level to a friend, and vendor that I like to do business with. When I look deeply into this, I realize quickly that Anil supply us material that any other vendor would provide – but then he provide this with a touch of his class – a care, warmth, and personal attention. Thus, though I do have choice to move on to other vendors – I prefer to procure items from him. Thus, business just happens for him from many customers like me – because he has been investing in building relationships!

Robbin Sharma in his book “The Greatness Guide” states that it is easy to forget that people do business with people they like. How apt and powerful this statement is – but often neglected one. Many great and giant business collapses because they fail to be connected and relate to their client base – they fail to build relationship that are positive in nature. Because they forget that people do businesses with people they like. Thus,

SUCCESS = Building (+ ve) Relationships