The trilogy of success

I read the Bhagwadgita from a different perspective. This dialogue between Krishna and Arjuna has maintained its relevance across time and tide and it still has its own significance in the contemporary world. While Arjuna is the embodiment of man in his material form, Krishna is the soul personified. The dialogue between them tries to resolve the conflict of values between the mind and the heart or the body and the soul.

Arjuna being his favourite, Krishna would do anything to preserve him. Krishna knew that as a warrior, Karna had an edge over Arjuna so upon his advice, Kunti revealed her motherhood to Karna and begged him to give away his protective “kavach” and “kundal” and“daanveer” Karna in his self destructive generosity gives it away. Still Krishna was apprehensive and he advised Arjuna that no matter how strong the odds are against you, life gives that one opportunity to everyone. During the battle, when Karna’s chariot wheel was stuck in the mud, he got down from his chariot to push its wheel and it was during that moment of his vulnerability, Krishna directed Arjuna to slay Karna.

Besides the issue of morality in this, what is worth pondering is that one has to recognize and avail the opportunity like how Krishna could do and direct Arjuna to act upon. Ramesh kumar was a sales executive in an electronic office equipment company. Very enthusiastic about his work, he used to make sales visits to various corporate offices. One day he confronted Mr.Gurumoorthy a very senior person from one such multi-national company and they exchanged greetings. During the conversation, Mr.Gurumoorthy offered him job in his company. Being a youngster who had just begun his career, it was hard for him to believe that he was cut out for such a big opportunity. Ramesh was in a state of conflict for two reasons. Firstly, whether he should leave his comfort zone and change his job which was just a year old? Secondly, he wondered whether it would be ethical on his part to cross over to one of his company’s customer. Resultantly, he shied away and did not go to meet Mr.Gurumoorthy After six years and two jobs later he still looked at that past as a missed opportunity. There was no external indication, nor any compelling signal from anywhere which could tell him to avail the opportunity that came by him six years ago but having lost it, he regrets later on hindsight.

In management parlance, success is the meeting point between your efforts and the opportunity passing by. For taking the right action, one should have the ability not only to take the action, but also to deliver what one undertakes to do. It is not only about the opportunity to change jobs, but even while at our day to day work, we come across several opportunities to fulfil even the smallest of objectives. It could be about using the help of a colleague to meet a deadline, or that one minute opportunity to impress the CEO in the elevator, or converting a prospective client for that matter. Our success lies in recognizing those opportunities and converting them into success.

The trilogy of success has corners namely opportunity, ability and action. The resultant space enclosed within this triangle is success.

Our mind, the Krishna should guide our heart, the Arjuna.

:-) DKB