Three tenets I strongly believe in for permanent and long term happiness, and a peaceful and healthy life, under any situation.
Simplicity, Honesty, and Integrity.
Simplicity: Means simplicity in thought and deeds. Does not matter even if you own a jet plane, and are a multi-billionaire.
Honesty: To yourself and others. Especially to yourself, because the worst thing that you could be doing is cheating yourself, the worst recipe for disaster.
Integrity: There are various things covered under it, but it broadly means, live by tried and tested, and socially accepted principles, not what junk people and literature says. The severest test of integrity is when you have committed a blunder or a mistake, and you know you will have to face some severe punishment because of it, but you still go ahead and accept it, and the consequences with grit and silence, and take a lesson that you will never do that again in your life.
This way, not only you are at peace, but you are doing a larger good, because so many people will be at peace, and will not lead a life full of vengeance and vendetta against you, in the process losing their peace of mind, and the little precious time in their life. And you will be loosing your peace and time in covering it up, always living under fear of it being discovered, throughout your life, even if people do not come to know about it if you are fortunate enough. But this world is full of smart people, and these days there are too many prying eyes.
And now sucess. As you start growing, you will be tested from all sides. This is true anywhere in the world, and for everybody. So of course to save yourself, you have to be super smart. And you know what, the most successful people who are considered super smart or geniuses, and people are either in awe of them, or jealous of them, or love them, seem to follow the three principles I pointed out above. More strictly as the higher they go up, and even if they lose battles they win the war, and not only have the last laugh, but also laugh their way to the bank. They also realize, anything valuable is hard earned, and life is not a bed of roses. There is a saying in English “Easy come, easy go”. This means that if you take shortcuts and achieve success, it will slip away as easily. So simple. Right?
Just see how simple are people who live on the top for a long long time. So far as money is concerned if you read about most successful people and businesses, which have lasted for ages, they never had money in mind when they started or grew be a larger organization. They still focused on doing their job to the best of their abilities, and all the money, success and recognition just came in, which were just the side affects of their hard labour and devotion to work.
Bill Gates started Microsoft with the aim that he wanted to make the best software people can use, and he still concentrates on that. Of course, he has to take business decisions, and manage and save the company from competition, but the core focus of Microsoft still remains the same, and he has not only achieved that, but also maintained it, and in the process has earned money and become an icon.
Back in India, Narayanmurthy wanted to create the most admired company, and the focus still remains that, and he has not only achieved that, but also maintained it, and in the process has earned money, and has become an icon.
I think, it works, especially the higher you go. Just stick to these three principles, and do your job to the best of your abilities, and see that everything will flow in. It’s better to be a world class teacher, than a below average or average anybody, because trust me you will be more successful than them.’
At a personal level, I do try and follow these principles broadly, and concentrate on things that give me pleasure. I do live by socially accepted principles broadly, but my activities are guided by my interests more than what others like or dislike, or others want me to do or do not want me to do. This has always worked for me, but of course may not for you.
So, despite this article, do use your best judgement before you do things. All the best!!