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Success Advice

Why You Shouldn’t Perceive Suffering as Being Synonymous to Success

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Ask anyone on the streets about their role model’s life and success, the only dimension they know will always be suffering. Is this the case with you? This is a very unpleasant situation not only as a person but also as a civilization. The problem with people these days is that they consider experiencing adversities as an essential part of achieving their goals. This doesn’t have to be true.

Popular Perception Of Success As Per The Media

They say the cinema is the reflection of civilization and I totally agree with it. All the media is filled with stories of immense struggle and achievement. While there is nothing wrong with that, they all fancy with hardships and distress as major drivers of a positive outcome. Some of the popular examples come from celebrities’ personal lives. Every music enthusiast knows that Jim Morrison had a rough personal life. Of course, he had his fair share of problems, but who hasn’t? 

A whole narrative on various media platforms considers enduring pain as a prerequisite to success. Perhaps, that is the worst way to cherish our goals. Uploading a selfie with a quote about hardships late at night is not going to make us become great. Hence, we need a thing that actually works. 

What People Should Discuss: Adrian Carton

The British Army had a soldier who went by the name Sir Adrian Carton de Wiart. Now, this guy is a timeless example of how an ideal war hero should be. Read the major highlights of his military career.

Part A:

  • Service span: Over six decades
  • Participation in major wars: 3. (Including World War 1 & 2)
  • Highest honour received: Victoria Cross

Part B:

  • Started his martial career: Underaged, without acknowledging his father.
  • Major injuries: Lost one arm, an eye, two fingers (he bit them off upon denial by a surgeon), shot at just near the spinal cord.
  • Minor injuries: Well, he was wounded countless times while leading the battle from the front.
  • Captivity: His plane to Yugoslavia was shot down, crashed in the Mediterranean. Swam to the shore at the age of sixty, captured by Italians. Remained a Prisoner of War (POW) for two years.

If you think that this is a lot of pain, this is what he had to say about it: “Frankly, I enjoyed the war.”

Bad events or circumstances are not necessary stepping stones for getting anywhere. What you might have considered as great suffering, he literally enjoyed every bit of his career as a warlord. He didn’t win gallantry awards for getting injured. Those injuries were the results of his desire to participate in wars. So, for him, everything was expected and these are the kind of heroes we need.

Why To Neglect Suffering

It is very clear that suffering is not existential in nature. You saw that both of these people had tragic aspects of their lives. While by no means do I disrespect Jim’s genius, but at what level does all of his misery meet that of Carton de Wiart? Only at the psychological level! All of his mishappenings could never equate the war hero’s lifestyle and yet he died out of them. The latter died at the age of 83, after displaying all the courage and chivalry under the sun.

The negative experiences are often one’s own created problems. Remember the square wheel example? Only if you have a round wheel can you drive smoothly. All the problems that pain you personally are nothing but psychological dramas. They are simply a part of our limited reality which don’t contribute to anything but our emotional turmoil. Mostly, it is a hypothetical pursuit which everyone needs to avoid if they want to get anywhere close to their goals.

Take A Pragmatic Approach To Success And Life At Large

Mostly, I find that people say ‘Bon Voyage’ and not ‘faire avoir pas bon voyage.’ It is necessary to have a good and safe journey in our lives too. Anything unwanted is a natural outcome and accept that it is the other side of the same coin. These fallbacks can help you recalibrate your efforts or seek new tools and methods to get your dreams to come true. Victories are always gratifying and they need us to do everything required with the right method.

Sadguru said these words for Steve Jobs and his management philosophy: “If you did not design it, Koreans would have.” It makes complete sense because he brought unnecessary hostility and abrupt dramatization of otherwise simple office work. Practicality not only enhances your perception of life but also improves your odds to make it to the triumphs you always sought.

Summing Up

We aren’t as vital to the world as we might think. If any of us disappeared for three weeks without leaving any information, we would be replaced within two weeks. The earth was doing great, well before we existed and will continue to do so long after we are done. 

You should live life to the fullest and be in a trance-like state while experiencing your journey on the planet. Whatever may it be, you are here to celebrate your efforts, and leave the results to God or destiny, whichever you prefer.

I hope that you agree upon the fact that success is nowhere synonymous with suffering and the right attitude is the key to smoothen the path to our ultimate visions.

What are your thoughts on how the media and society portray success? Do you think it’s correct, or do you have a different version? Share your thoughts below!

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Success Advice

Why One-Size-Fits-All Leadership Will Always Fail (and What Works Instead)

The surprising truth about leadership styles that can make or break your team’s success.

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Why one-size-fits-all leadership doesn’t work
Image Credit: Midjourney

Leadership has always been as much about people as it is about performance. Ken Blanchard, in his influential book, “The One Minute Manager”, put it simply: different strokes for different folks. (more…)

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Success Advice

What Every New CEO Must Do in Their First 100 Days (or Risk Failure)

Your first 100 days as CEO could define your entire legacy, here’s how to make every move count

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leadership tips for new CEO
Image Credit: Midjourney

When Tim Cook took over from Steve Jobs at Apple, the world watched with bated breath. Jobs wasn’t just a CEO; he was a visionary, an icon, and a legend of innovative leadership. (more…)

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Entrepreneurs

The Leadership Shift Every Company Needs in 2025

Struggling to keep your team engaged? Here’s how leaders can turn frustrated employees into loyal advocates.

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Bridging the gap between employees and employers
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In workplaces around the world, there’s a growing gap between employers and employees and between superiors and their teams. It’s a common refrain: “People don’t leave companies, they leave bad bosses.”

While there are, of course, cases where management could do better, this isn’t just a “bad boss” problem. The relationship between leaders and employees is complex. Instead of assigning blame, we should explore practical solutions to build stronger, healthier workplaces where everyone thrives.

Why This Gap Exists

Every workplace needs someone to guide, supervise, and provide feedback. That’s essential for productivity and performance. But because there are usually far more employees than managers, dissatisfaction, fair or not, spreads quickly.

What if, instead of focusing on blame, we focused on building trust, empathy, and communication? This is where modern leadership and human-centered management can make a difference.

Tools and Techniques to Bridge the Gap

Here are proven strategies leaders and employees can use to foster stronger relationships and create a workplace where people actually want to stay.

1. Practice Mutual Empathy

Both managers and employees need to recognize they are ultimately on the same team. Leaders have to balance people and performance, and often face intense pressure to hit targets. Employees who understand this reality are more likely to cooperate and problem-solve collaboratively.

2. Maintain Professional Boundaries

Superiors should separate personal issues from professional decision-making. Consistency, fairness, and integrity build trust, and trust is the foundation of a motivated team.

3. Follow the Golden Rule

Treat people how you would like to be treated. This simple principle encourages compassion and respect, two qualities every effective leader must demonstrate.

4. Avoid Micromanagement

Micromanaging stifles creativity and damages morale. Great leaders see themselves as partners, not just bosses, and treat their teams as collaborators working toward a shared goal.

5. Empower Employees to Grow

Empowerment means giving employees responsibility that matches their capacity, and then trusting them to deliver. Encourage them to take calculated risks, learn from mistakes, and problem-solve independently. If something goes wrong, turn it into a learning opportunity, not a reprimand.

6. Communicate in All Directions

Communication shouldn’t just be top-down. Invite feedback, create open channels for suggestions, and genuinely listen to what your people have to say. Healthy upward communication closes gaps before they become conflicts.

7. Overcome Insecurities

Many leaders secretly fear being outshone by younger, more tech-savvy employees. Instead of resisting, embrace the chance to learn from them. Humility earns respect and helps the team innovate faster.

8. Invest in Coaching and Mentorship

True leaders grow other leaders. Provide mentorship, career guidance, and stretch opportunities so employees can develop new skills. Leadership is learned through experience, but guided experience is even more powerful.

9. Eliminate Favoritism

Avoid cliques and office politics. Decisions should be based on facts and fairness, not gossip. Objective, transparent decision-making builds credibility.

10. Recognize Efforts Promptly

Recognition often matters more than rewards. Publicly appreciate employees’ contributions and do so consistently and fairly. A timely “thank you” can be more motivating than a quarterly bonus.

11. Conduct Thoughtful Exit Interviews

When employees leave, treat it as an opportunity to learn. Keep interviews confidential and use the insights to improve management practices and culture.

12. Provide Leadership Development

Train managers to lead, not just supervise. Leadership development programs help shift mindsets from “command and control” to “coach and empower.” This transformation has a direct impact on morale and retention.

13. Adopt Soft Leadership Principles

Today’s workforce, largely millennials and Gen Z, value collaboration over hierarchy. Soft leadership focuses on partnership, mutual respect, and shared purpose, rather than rigid top-down control.

The Bigger Picture: HR’s Role

Mercer’s global research highlights five key priorities for organizations:

  • Build diverse talent pipelines

  • Embrace flexible work models

  • Design compelling career paths

  • Simplify HR processes

  • Redefine the value HR brings

The challenge? Employers and employees often view these priorities differently. Bridging that perception gap is just as important as bridging the relational gap between leaders and staff.

Treat Employees Like Associates, Not Just Staff

When you treat employees like partners, they bring their best selves to work. HR leaders must develop strategies to keep talent engaged, empowered, and prepared for the future.

Organizational success starts with people, always. Build the relationship with your team first, and the results will follow.

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Entrepreneurs

What Makes an Entrepreneurial Leader? Traits of the World’s Best Innovators

Inside the mindset of entrepreneurial leaders who transform risk, passion, and vision into world-changing results.

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entrepreneurial leadership skills and traits
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When you think of Richard Branson (Virgin Group), Bill Gates (Microsoft), Steve Jobs (Apple), Rupert Murdoch (News Corporation), and Ted Turner (CNN), one thing becomes clear: they are not just entrepreneurs, they are entrepreneurial leaders. (more…)

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