BY BHAWNA AGARWAL
CEO, Gadget 360
They say that in the corporate world, only goals determine your success; but I humbly disagree. What really matters is the journey and not the destination, because there is so much more in between. In the competitive era that we live in, everybody is running behind becoming someone big. But what they fail to realize is that the road keeps changing and that is what moulds you as a person.
I have often been asked this question - What is the difference between a successful & unsuccessful person? It’s simple. If your journey has been fulfilling and satisfying, you will be a secure leader. People who tend to vent their frustration on other people in office are actually the ones who are always afraid of being sidelined and want to grab attention at any cost. Insecurity is their middle name. After all, rudeness is the weak person’s imitation of strength. At times, leaders forget that respect is an earned value and not something you can demand.
When someone judges you, it isn’t actually about you. It’s about them and their insecurities, limitations and needs. Hence success equals security within oneself. You need to continue to provide positive examples for people to follow, by walking the talk.
During my career span, I have had the fortune of working with some really tough but very efficient bosses. When I was in charge of launching a pilot project, it was very easy to find faults in the cutthroat environment. But I learnt a very important lesson - you don’t have to hold a position in order to be a leader and that attitude changed everything.
I took charge of my responsibility and envisioned myself as the CEO of my own team, although I wasn’t at that time. I had not taken calculated business risks of that magnitude until then. I was on a path less travelled and I fully intended to leave a trail behind. It was up to me to make it or break it and then everything else ceased to matter. I just focused on my own sense of empowerment and that reflected in everything I did and helped make that model, the largest revenue generating unit.
The only way you can keep moving forward successfully is to keep challenging yourself and to absolutely love what you do. Courage does not always mean that you have to roar like a lion all the time; sometimes a steely resolve within you to overcome the limitations can make the most noise. A voice inside your head that says, “I know, I will make this happen tomorrow” can break mountains. You think CEOs in their heyday have not gone through that? You will be surprised! The important thing is not being afraid to take a chance.
There will be days when you are forced to give up, but those are the days that will actually define you. When you will ask the question, ‘Why me?’ Instead, say it out aloud- TRY ME! All your life’s learning depends on whether or not you can turn any situation around. People will either cheer or jeer at you. Focus on one thing - Yourself. Do not wait for the opportunities to come to you, create them! As they say, if you genuinely want something, don’t wait for it. Teach yourself to be impatient.
Simply put, when you fall, don’t look for a reason to blame but an inspiration to rise again. Have the burning desire to succeed and the rest, as they say, will follow. Success is liking what you do, and liking how you do it…
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