Stepping Stones to Success
By Saumitra Mohan


All if us keep dreaming of making it big one day though only some of us are lucky enough to achieve what we aspire for. The best way to make one's dream come true is to wake up and act to realize the same. Even though there are many dream careers to look forward to, but there are only few who are able to complete the journey to the final destination. Many either drop out or fall by the way side in their bid to snatch a place in the sun. Even though, a government job does have all its attractions, but it is not be all and end all. There are far better, more challenging, offering more opportunities, monetarily more rewarding and above all, more satisfying jobs available in the private sector. But one has to have all that qualities in oneself that goes into making of a person worthy of such a responsible position.


At a time, when the government in its bid to shed the unnecessary flab that it had gathered all these preceding years is increasingly reducing the number of vacancies, one has to be extra cagey when one selects one's career. Though it is always better that one starts early and makes one's career choice right in the beginning, say when one completes the matriculation or the intermediate. But as they say, it is never too late. What one needs is planning, strong determination, devotion, dedication and hard work. One should plan one's work and then work one's plan.


One thing that is very important when you set about the achievement of any career goal is an honest self-appraisal. You should through a thorough introspection, cross-examine yourself and ask yourself as to whether you have all the requisite qualities necessary for the achievement of the career goal that you have set for yourself. Any mistake at this level could prove suicidal and would lead you nowhere. So, try to avoid under or overestimation of yourself. Underestimation of your potential would not only waste the human resource in you but it would always make you feel dissatisfied and unfulfilled. On the other hand, overestimation would not only keep the success away from you, at the end of the day it would also make you feel completely frustrated and incapable of any attainment. So, always be on your guard when you set about the exercise of self-assessment and never let others take decisions for you. Take your decisions and fight your own battles. And never forget to do a cost-benefit analysis before you finally take a decision. Always weigh all the options available before you and then opt for the one you deem most suitable for you.


Yes, if you are ambitious and have the grit and determination to move the mountains then you can indulge in the luxury of setting a high profile career goal that may not match your inherent qualities. All you need to do in such a situation is to uplift yourself to meet the demands of your career goal. Never forget that the number of those desirous of a job exceed by many times than the number of jobs available. So, you have to master all those qualities and attributes in such a way as to make you more than worthy of the job you hold. Let me enter one caveat here. Take care that you don't put all your eggs in one basket. May be that you have taken utmost care to select your career goal and may be that you put in all your effort to realize the same but it is also possible that things may not turn out the way you thought they would. Therefore, as far as possible keep other options open.


There are some common qualities, which are desideratum for success anywhere, and if you have mastered them, sky is the limit for you. They inter alia include a very good command over knowledge of your field, a good penmanship or writing skills, a reasonably good oratorical skill, self confidence, capacity to work hard, honesty in everything you do and a concern for the larger society. The more you can add to your positive qualities, the better. The most important of these positive qualities include a good oratorical and a good writing skill with equally good command over language and knowledge, not to speak of a polite and positive outlook. If you have them all in good or reasonably good measure, believe me sooner or later Lady Luck would be smiling on you and showering the bounties you have desired all along.


So, make good habits and then wait and watch what your habits make of you. Change your routine and habits according to the set goal. Always keep in mind your goal and let your goal goad all your activities. All your actions should in one or the other way contribute to the attainment of your goals. If you feel that the atmosphere around you is not conducive to the realization of your goal, then create the necessary atmosphere yourself by befriending those you either share your career goal with or are somehow can make a positive contribution in your endeavors. Find out the rough edges in your personality and strive hard to smoothen the same. All your activities should revolve around and should be aimed at the achievement of your career goal.


Always remember one thing. In your bid to get to your coveted goal, never ever tie yourself up so much as to make your life dull and drab. Life is beautiful and human life is more so. So, even while go about your preparations for the realization of your dream career, don't stop enjoying life. Have some time also for fun and frolicking. Do not forget to chill out after a grueling round of studies. Try to fit in your fun time and fun things in a way as to assist you in the advancement of your career goal. All that is being suggested here is that try to mix and match your career and fun activities in such a way that it takes you nearer to your career goal.

There would be hurdles and they would be legion but always remember that when the going gets though, the tough gets going. After all, success never goes through short cut. Also, when you are desirous of success, be ready for failures on your way. Don't forget the hoary dictum that failures are the pillars of success. And failures are never getting knocked down, but it is not getting up. After all, no defeat is final until one stops trying.

(2002)