What Success means to me?

Until few years ago, I never had my own understanding of Success. It was always defined by people around me.

 

When I was a child, my mother told me that Success is about getting good grades in School. My grandfather who is a staunch academician told me that Success is about getting into a Premier Engineering College in India. Later my father told me that I should pass out with a good CGPA and a job to be called successful. I did every bit of them- Grades, BITS Pilani, Best Outgoing Student and Job in Otis Elevators. So, was I successful?

 

But I always felt a hollow space despite these “successes” which my family and societies used to call me a successful young man. That’s when I began to think about Success in a deeper manner.

 

After profuse thinking and critical self-appraisal, I came to the conclusion that Success is an Abstract, Qualitative and Intangible entity. Success is about getting the inner sense of satisfaction, happiness and not about evaluation of others. A Police Constable who treats all Public equally and who sincerely does his duties can go home telling himself that he is successful in his work. His success is no less than his SP’s who may have earned lot of laurels for his good work.

 

In my life I will consider myself successful if after every day of my police duty if I come back home smiling with a sense of satisfaction that I could help a person in need or if I contribute my bit for ensuring peace and harmony in this Nation which gave birth to The Buddha and Gandhiji.

 

Lastly, Success is not a Destination it’s a journey. This was reiterated by none other than Nelson Mandela himself when he said:

“After climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb”