Climbing the Ladder of SUCCESS
Every step on the path of progress is significant. It could be a small step or a big one; it nevertheless takes us closer to our goal and hence is valuable. If we have to reach an upper floor, we climb several stairs, one at a time. Similarly, to reach our goal, we have to take one step at a time. However, we should be careful during climbing stairs because there is always a risk of tripping over or falling when we climb fast. Similarly, we need to be careful when we move towards our goals.
The Panchatantra Parable of Two Birds
There is a story in Panchatantra that elucidates this fact. There lived two birds in a jungle. At one end of the forest, there was a tree that gave tasty fruits only once a year. When the season for fruits arrived, all birds planned to travel to that part of the jungle.
The first bird told the second one — 'That tree is quite far from here. I will take my own time and reach there since the fruit-bearing season lasts for two months.' The second bird was over-excited and replied — 'Friend! I am very eager to go there. Even the thought of those tasty fruits is making me salivate. I want to fly there in a single stretch and eat those sweet fruits.'
The next day, both birds flew out of their nests towards the faraway tree. After covering some distance, the first bird felt tired and rested on the branch of a tree. The second bird smiled at the first one and continued to fly with renewed speed. It, too, was experiencing fatigue but was in a hurry. So it chose not to stop — and kept going till it could see the fruit-laden tree. It could even smell the aroma of ripe fruits, but at that instant, its wings gave away due to exhaustion. It fell from the skies, and the wings got broken. It could never reach the tree to enjoy the fruits.
The first bird, on the other hand, completed the journey in phases and comfortably reached the tree. It could eat the fruits to its heart's content. The moral of this fable is clear: we can reach our goal in a series of steps. Rest is as important as effort and exertion. Taking a break helps us rejuvenate and move forward with extra vigor. Excess zeal and greed can be harmful and risky too.
Every Effort Has Value
Everyone has to work hard to reach one's goal. Even when the desired goal is not reached, we should remember that those efforts helped us move ahead in life. We gained new experiences and learnings that will prove useful in the subsequent course of life.
Any worthwhile task can be accomplished only by relentless effort, hard work, and planning. Take, for example, the case of building a house. First, the blueprint of the architecture is developed. Then collecting the materials for construction, followed by laying the foundation. Gradually, the house gets built over time, according to the blueprint. As a beautiful home is built brick by brick, so is the case with attaining the desired goal. Climbing one step at a time, you can reach the first floor, and continuing the climb will take you to higher levels. It is the small tasks that we accomplish every day that will pave the way for reaching the loftiest of goals.
People who dream of fulfilling their lofty ambitions while ignoring the small tasks of everyday life cannot achieve success because achieving these small successes is the basis for the final one. Those who do not pay attention to little things in life cannot meet big ones either.
Mahatma Buddha says — 'Whatever work you have at hand presently, do it to the best of your ability with full enthusiasm. Do not ignore or look down upon any task.'
The lives of all great people assert this truth — that they could become great only by discharging the smallest of their duties with care and wisdom. Just like 12 months make a year — if a single month is left out, the year cannot be completed. Similarly, each of our steps symbolizes the attainment of our goal. We should always set micro-goals that require small efforts; achieving these small goals will eventually lead to final success.
If 5 out of 10 small efforts end up in failure, it might disappoint us. But the success in five efforts boosts our enthusiasm and confidence. Hurrying into any activity is always a damaging proposition — when we are in a rush, we tend to make mistakes that may not be rectifiable. A person whose natural tendency is to listen, think, and understand before jumping into any activity has a higher chance of scaling the heights of success.
When an infant begins to learn walking, he first crawls and then gradually stands up and tries to walk, holding something for support. He might wobble and fall, but he continues trying and one day succeeds. Then he not only walks but runs soon after.
In essence, if we want to progress and achieve success in life, we should remember that small steps are significant in reaching the pinnacle. Only when this is borne in mind can one scale the heights of success.
"Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can't lose." — Bill Gates
"Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value." — Albert Einstein