Success vs. Joy
- XIX -
Saying No to Success
T here could be a creative director in an advertising agency who is promoted to the position of chief executive. He may have the title and the power, but is now unable to do what he really likes to. Success and enjoyment do not necessarily go hand-in-hand.
Herein lies a dilemma. If you genuinely enjoy writing advertising copy, does that mean you forfeit every other opportunity that may come your way. Would you say, “I don’t want a promotion. I don’t wish to move up the company’s hierarchy. I’m happy doing what I do?” Should a clerk always remain a clerk? Should he not aspire to become an accountant
and then, perhaps, a finance manager?
One way of circumventing this dilemma is by growing constantly, by learning new skills. The sentiment should be as follows – I enjoy being a clerk or an accountant or a copywriter, but if I am given another job I will grow and enjoy that as well. Joy lies in learning and personal growth, and the new responsibilities are to be seen in this context.
In sports, too, after you have achieved a certain measure of success, you are asked to do other things. People ask you for interviews. You are invited to parties. You become a role model. You are asked to become what you are not. It is really up to you to put your foot down firmly and say, “Hey, this is not giving me any enjoyment.”
You have to exercise a choice. You have to be very clear about who you are and what gives you joy. Be mentally prepared to brush aside everything for joy. Work hard, learn, grow, and stretch to reach out to this joy. Use every cell in your body and brain to hit that personal sweet spot of joy. And my experience says that success just follows.