Sigmund Freud.
Rene Descartes.
The Buddha.
Socrates.
Marcus Aurelius.
Aristotle.
Abraham Maslow.
Albert Schweitzer.
Albert Einstein.
Joseph Campbell.
Confucius.
Thomas Jefferson.
Foreword
Success is what everyone claims to want; and yet, few are able to adequately define what it is. For many, success is fame and fortune, yet those that really achieve that “goal” are relatively few. In fact, success is an ephemeral concept that needs constant shoring up and redefinition: Once you have achieved what you think is success, you have to keep working to maintain it! The definition of success is not a simple one, but the means to it are open to everyone who genuinely adopts its underlying principles. Curiously, many of those who do not enjoy what is popularly understood as success still claim to be happy. In fact, as we shall see, happiness is an integral part of the entire phenomenon of success.
All constructs, whether material or abstract, depend on certain building blocks; and all structures must have a foundation upon which to erect each subsequent level. Success is such a construct. From a sound foundation is built the edifice called success. The I-beams that support the roof must be constructed with integrity of materials and engineering catalysts if they are to support and reinforce the entire edifice. If one of these beams falters, cracks begin to appear, and in time the entire building can collapse. These beams are what the author calls pillars. They are not immediately intuitive, and require reflection to fully appreciate their relevance and importance in sustaining the overall structure called success. No one pillar stands alone; multiple pillars are needed to build enduring success, and those pillars must be well anchored if the building is to bear the test of time.
The ancient Greeks believed that a sound mind and a sound body are interrelated and intimately connected. The concept of success exists within such a paradigm. Without the physical in which the mind is embodied, existence is not possible. Therefore, attention to the integrity of the body does affect how the mind can achieve desired goals. It follows that there are always physical as well as nonphysical elements which go into creating the best possible outcomes. The author has identified seven principles as essential pillars for creating success, although she is careful to note that many more principles figure into the equation to a greater or lesser degree, overlapping and bolstering the seven discussed herein. The seven qualities specifically examined are physical, emotional, intellectual, professional, financial, social and spiritual.
1 The physical pillar represents our biological needs. Without physical wellbeing, stamina, food, drink and shelter, any efforts at self-improvement may be stymied by disabilities and impairments. Included is the environment: A homeless person does not have the same opportunity for success as one whose shelter and basic needs are met in a more secure environment. The author has included some notables in the field of physical health, including Kenneth Cooper, M.D. who has extolled the importance of active exercise and Arnold Schwarzenegger as a model of physical perfection in his career as bodybuilder.
1 The emotional pillar comprises all those elements that bring the psyche into focus. Without stability of this pillar, success may be impossible to attain and maintain, or indeed, to recognize. The teachings of Freud, Adler, and Jung, amongst many, focus on this aspect of success.
1 The intellectual pillar brings together all the education and training taken toward achieving lifetime goals. Albert Einstein immediately comes to mind as the best example. Intellectual prowess opens endless horizons, as does education and opportunity for learning and a nurturing intellectual curiosity. Enduring success depends on this pillar.
1 The professional pillar is actually a combination of education productivity with dedication to a set goal. Being a doctor, lawyer, or Indian chief requires staunchness and single-minded commitment to the task. Here we can look to Jonas Salk and Louis Pasteur as examples of professionalism leading toward success. Indeed, many more visionary industrialists grace the pages of history as having risen to professional heights in the service of society. The author has included many such names in the text.
1 The financial pillar depends on a spectrum of abilities and foresight. The fiscal acumen and abilities of J.P. Morgan and Dale Carnegie are good examples to follow. But as we shall see, it is not the accumulation of money that spells success; rather, it is the feeling of accomplishment rather than financial gain that is at stake. Taken together with the other pillars, along with cogent planning, financial ability can prove to be a potent source of benefit to oneself as it is to society.
1 The social pillar at first glance may seem superficial; however, it is the connections with others that may facilitate the achievement of long-term goals.
1 The spiritual pillar comprises all those intangible pursuits, such as spiritual belief and personal meditation. In our time, we have seen Mother Teresa and Pope Francis reach out with compassion to great effect. An ability to reflect and meditate, and more importantly, to appreciate one’s gifts, might well be the most important pillar of all.
None of the above attributes can stand alone. Just as a temple is constructed upon several pillars, so is that nebulous and mysterious concept of success. What can the following pages do? The most important message might be that there is no absolute secret for success. Success is a matter of focus and determination with no time schedule. It is a continuum. Everyone will move forward at a different rate. If fame and fortune are seen as the end result, many will be disappointed. However, small gains accrued over time build toward real accomplishment and may eventually lead to the desired fame and fortune. The Aesop story of the hare and the tortoise is relevant when we think about it.
This book is meant as a guide to practices and approaches that too often are subtle and abstract. The seven pillars are not exclusive; there are many more that can be included. Once the principles outlined here are assimilated and practiced, success is the inevitable end result. The journey may be long or short, easy or difficult, but in any case, it is a journey everyone can take and see results in their favor. Read on as you tread on the path of your own journey to success.
The author of this book is no stranger to the elements leading to success. In a lifetime of personal reflection and meditation, she has identified over 140 values essential in living life to the fullest. She has compiled them in The Book of Values, an inspiring tome meant to be read over and over. Success is not a singular experience, but a collection colored by a spectrum of personal qualities. Qualities such as integrity and dependability may be self-explanatory; others such as bushido and curiosity may need further reflection. In the end, however, it may well be gratitude that matters most. We must recognize and acknowledge the influences that got us to our present
