Long before he sows the seeds or plants the crops the farmer
prepares the land. He ensures that the land has been
properly tilled and the correct chemicals such as weed killer
have been administered. The farmer does not just go out and
sow. He has to do his preparatory work first. The farmer
creates an environment that makes germination and proper
growth of the plants feasible. This is very critical to you, I hope you're paying close attention.
In pretty much the same manner one has to prepare an
environment conducive to long-term, sustainable, overall
success. In essence preparation of the success environment
means adhering to three basic laws of the universe that
govern everything therein. Obedience to these laws is
optional. One may choose to obey or not to obey. However the
consequences are not optional. One may choose to ignore the
force of gravity but the consequences are not optional.
If you jump from the top of a three-story building without a
doubt you'll end up on the ground - possibly with a few
broken limbs. The same applies to the three universal laws
that I am about to share with you.
This is the first success secret: create a success
environment and obey the three universal laws. The three
laws are:
1) The Golden Rule
2) Ecology/Balance
3) Faith
Universal Law 1: The Golden Rule
The first universal law to be adhered to is the golden rule.
I am sure you know this law, which says that you must do
unto others, as you would like them to do unto you. What you
probably didn't realise is that it is an essential
pre-requisite for enduring success.
I know this falls flat in the face of popular beliefs,
especially in business, where most people are trying to
out-maneuver each other using devious means. The fact of the
matter is that disobedience of this rule ultimately leads to
one's downfall, oftentimes in disgrace.
An example that I learnt about recently helps to illustrate
the importance of this law. When the Japanese car
manufacturers started penetrating the US and European
markets the car manufacturers in these countries responded
by investing heavily in automation and advanced technology.
This did not help and the Japanese continued to wrestle
market share from their competitors. The fact of the matter
was that the Japanese were producing better cars at a much
lower cost.
Eventually the US and European companies discovered that the
Japanese had close knit, long term, mutually beneficial,
synergistic relationships with their suppliers. They were
not playing the game played by their rivals of trying all
sort of tricks to force their suppliers to lower their
prices. They were actually cultivating long-term
relationships based on trust. The result of these
relationships was quality. The Japanese car manufacturers
were treating their suppliers, as they would like to be
treated. And it does make very good business sense.
If you are going to engage in any interaction with any
person don't ever forget this rule. For anything that you
are getting ensure that you are giving something of equal or
greater value. If you were in the other party's shoes would
you be as happy about the exchange.
Don't be fooled by the ignorant.
Don't ever imagine that you can build enduring success on a
shaky foundation. Obey the golden rule.
Universal Law 2: Ecology/Balance
This law governs all living things in this world. There is
birth, growth and finally death. Despite all her magnificent
achievements mankind has not been able to escape the
limitations of time and space, which are characteristic of
this worlds. This is why we eventually all die.
Simply put this rule says that if anyone tells you that you
can get rich quickly run away from that person as fast as
your legs will allow you. Run away as fast as you can and
don't come back to him. There is no such thing as a free
lunch. Never. If you are going to succeed and your success
is going to last then your growth must be organic. You must
start as a seed and then germinate and then grow leaves and
so on provided there is the correct quantity of moisture,
sunlight, warmth and so forth.
Many people who win huge amounts of money in lottery and
lotto draws suffer from what the Americans have termed the
"Sweepstakes Syndrome". Within a few years they will be as
poor if not poorer than they were before getting the
windfall. This only goes to show that poverty is a state of
mind rather than a condition of lacking material means.
Obeying the ecology rule also means maintaining a fine
balance between the different roles that you have. We all
have multiple roles to play for example as a father, child,
wife, employee, neighbour, chairman, employer, friend, elder
etc. All these are important roles in our lives, which
combine together to mould the complete person. Lasting
success is only possible if these roles are well balanced.
You need to ensure that you don't rob Peter in order to give
to Paul. Don't sacrifice the success of your family in order
to achieve financial success. Don't destroy your health
whilst placing too much attention on your business.
In order to create an environment conducive to success you
must obey the ecology rule,. Don't expect results
before effort. Ensure that your roles are balanced.
Universal Law 3: Faith
The word "faith" is normally used with somewhat mysterious
connotations in a religious sense. My meaning in this report
is slightly different. Here I am talking about a strong
belief in positive future outcomes. You could say "optimism"
if you like. If you ask me about the rational basis for
faith I suppose I might end up going back to religion but
strictly speaking I am not talking religion here.
When you get up in the morning and open a pack of cereal you
have faith that the contents therein are not poisonous. When
you drive to work you have faith that the other road users
are not maniacs who are likely to drastically shorten your
life span. When you get into the elevator you have faith
that it's going to function properly. When you board a plane
you have faith in the pilot (who you have never met) and you
have faith in the condition of plane. When a farmer plants
crops she has faith that the rains will come and she will
have a good harvest. You see surviving in this world depends
on faith.
Without faith you would be totally paralysed. You would not
engage in any meaningful task or enterprise. Without faith
you are as good as dead. In any case it's a lot more fun
being optimistic.
The same applies to your goals, your plans, your vision, and
your ambitions. You must believe fervently in their
realisation. You must be optimistic. You must have faith.
It's not optional. It's obligatory if you are pursuing
success.
I have dwelt on the more logical side of the importance of
faith but there is a mysterious side to it too. Numerous
accounts have been recorded of people who succeeded against
the odds and it was found out that these people had
unshakable faith that they would succeed. There is some
mysterious process that converts our fervent wishes and
beliefs into reality. It's a kind of a self-fulfilling
prophecy. As one wise person once put it, "whether you
think you can or you can't you are right".
It's all up to you. Do you make an
effort to be optimistic? Do you consciously foresee success
long before it occurs? Do you anticipate good outcomes?
Do you have faith? If not then you better do something about
it now.
SUMMARY OF SUCCESS SECRET 1: SUCCESS ENVIRONMENT
In summary the first Success Secret says that you must
create an environment conducive to success by adhering to
the three universal laws of
1) The Golden Rule
2) Ecology/Balance
3) Faith
