Success in all Endeavours

For success in any endeavour there are five contributing factors. The first is the field of action which we must examine from every possible angle before we take up any work. With a clear understanding of the field, there will be fewer obstructions and surprises for us to cope with as we go along.

The second is the fitness of the agent, which concerns the natural abilities of the agent for a particular work. One should have the proper physical, emotional and intellectual requirements necessary for a particular occupation.

Proper consideration should be given to the necessary equipment for the work undertaken. The agent’s ability and skill in handling his instruments and tools should also be considered.

Perfection and economy of effort comes next. The energy expended in every action must be regulated and balanced by proper judgment. Three things should be avoided: excessive expenditure of energy, misapplication of energy, and laziness. If you wish your work to attain the highest degree of excellence every detail must be perfect.

The fifth and also the most important element yet remains — destiny. Some may call it fate or luck, but whatever we call it, it is an element over which we have no control. We have to recognize it and make allowances for it in all our plans.

Scientists reviewed 225 studies involving 275,000 people and found that chronically happy people are in general more successful in their personal and professional lives. Importantly, their happiness tends to be a consequence of positive emotions, the researchers conclude.

“When people feel happy, they tend to feel confident, optimistic and energetic, and others find them likable and sociable,” said Sonja Lyubomirsky of the University of California, Riverside. “Happy people are thus able to benefit from these perceptions.”

The results are detailed in one of the issues of the Psychological Bulletin, published by the American Psychological Association.

Previous research has often assumed that success and accomplishments bring happiness, Lyubomirsky and her colleagues write.

“We found that this isn’t always true,” Lyubomirsky said. “Positive effect is one attribute among several that can lead to success-oriented behaviours. Other resources, such as intelligence, family, expertise and physical fitness, can also play a role in peoples’ successes.” Among the good things that come from happiness: positive perceptions of self and others, sociability, creativity, a strong immune system, and effective coping skills.