I was doing a coaching session with one of my co-coaches on her plans for a future career. Post the coaching session, she was explaining how keen she was to succeed in the new line. In a very confident manner, I informed her that she would succeed. She queried on the basis of my confidence. I explained in a very spontaneous manner that she has the following characteristics that would enable her to succeed – Purpose, Planning, Perseverance and Passion – the 4 Ps. She replied that this was a beautiful way of explaining.
Post that session, I gave some thought to what I had articulated and found that what I had explained spontaneously and impromptu had merit. I decided to write an article elaborating on the 4Ps and here is it.
What can we do to become successful in life? How can we excel in all areas of life, whether it be professional or personal? We know many philosophers taking on this subject over the decades, but here are few points which I regard as being fundamental.
Success has been greatest stimulus for everyone. It is very important for all. Success as great impact on our life which comes with pride and pleasure, gives sense of fulfillment. Everybody aspires to be successful in life. But success comes to those who have a proper purpose, planning, perseverance and passion. This 4Ps plays a key role to succeed.
PURPOSE is the “need”. A requirement to be successful to achieve a goal. It’s our conscious mind who always reminds of Goal we want to achieve in life. Every person when comes to existence comes with some purpose in their own capacity and this purpose eventually becomes goal. This drives the person to action.
PLANNING helps to stay focused and offers direction to achieve the purpose in your life. Planning also uncovers the problems and roadblocks for which finding solutions and implementing fixes are required to achieve the goal. Planning gives perspective and help you identify what matters and what is possible to achieve. As we know human tendency which likes to believe in overnight success but we should not sideline the truth perhaps it’s more appropriate to change the well know quote “practice makes perfect” a better quote would be “planning makes perfect”.
“Meticulous planning will enable everything a man does to appear spontaneous.”– Mark Caine
PERSEVERANCE is probably one of the important characteristics to be successful in life. It means your determination to work hard regardless to problems, obstacles which exist. It also show your dedication on being firm on completing task and not giving up. Life is so unpredictable it will not always have things going our way all the time, sometimes we will make mistakes or fail in getting what we want. However, by persevering and sticking to the task we will eventually overcome and be successful.
Bhagavad Gîta Chapter 2, Verse 47 that says-
karmanyevaadhikaaraste maa phaleshu kadaachana |
maa karmaphalaheturbhuu maatesangotsvakarmani ||
which translates to : A person has the right towards action alone and not towards the fruits of action. Let not the fruits of action be the motive for acting and also not get attached to inaction
PASSION by its definition means strong feeling of enthusiasm or excitement for something or to achieve something. Among few important traits and abilities to achieve success, passion stands alone. Unlike Skillset, knowledge, planning or other factors, passion is intrinsic: can’t be learned or acquired but has to be present. Passion helps the person’s desire and capacity to go above and beyond the limit to achieve exceptionally superlative outcomes. But also it’s a fact that trying to identify passion is a bit like trying to identify inspiration: the key to be figure out the “why” rather than the “what “. Passion is all about being “authentic self”.
Facebook's CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, has changed the world in which we live. In David Kirkpatrick's book, "The Facebook Effect: The Inside Story of The Company That is Connecting The World," Kirkpatrick lists what he believes are Zuckerberg's characteristics that led to his success. One of these characteristics is following his passion - not money. Zuckerberg suggests "following your happiness" using the logic that even if you do not end up making a fortune, you will at least be doing what you love.
On reflection later on, I realized that I could think of a few more Ps – Patience, Performance, Preparation, Positivity, which I think are somehow interlinked with 4P’s and hence decided to stick to the 4Ps – somewhat similar to the 4Ps of Marketing
To succeed in life may it be your personal goals or professional goals you should stay focused and passionate on your dreams by making self-commitment with a fire in a belly to succeed and remembering the 4 Ps.
