What
inspires the long-term achievers to make the kind of
choice they do? To struggle and grow despite all odds
- to find a new meaning and hang onto it not just for
a moment or himself, but to create success that lasts?
This book attempts to answer the above question based
on the interview of more than 200 people all over the
world who have made a difference, large or small, in
their filed, profession, or community but lived a life
that mattered. They may not be entrepreneurs, revolutionaries,
and experts; they may not be rich, loud and assertive;
they may not be charismatic, but they are definitely
the ones who felt the need to create something new or
better that will endure throughout their lifetime and
also flourish well beyond. To put it briefly, they are
those ordinary people who did extraordinary things that
mattered to them.
While
selecting the list of successful people, the authors
have kept in mind that they should not just be momentary
heroes; they must have at least two decades of success
behind them and must have kept up the ethical rules
of society. The people were interviewed directly using
exploratory dialog method and the third party biographies
and surveys were not relied on.
Success
is not something that one looks for in a dictionary.
Success is not defined in terms of wealth, popularity
or influence. Nowhere are fulfillment, happiness and
lasting relationships defined as enduring success. The
authors suggest that to achieve success, one has to
first abandon popular delusions. When success just means
wealth, fame and power, it doesn't last and it also
isn't satisfying. |
