We all aspire to be successful. Of course we all want honor, riches, & comforts.
You want to attain a particular status in life, maybe, an impressive education degree, key position in a big corporation, or you may want to buy that stylish latest edition of your dream car, to have that cozy house & lot in a posh village, to send your children to prestigious schools; travel in major cities of the world; buy all sorts of things, dine in the world's elegant hotels, resorts & restaurants.
After all these, you still want to have spare money to put into highly profitable investments yielding more, terrific, isn't it? What a thrilling possibility this could be!
Some people were born with golden spoon in their mouth. Their rich parents simply laid up for them the treasures heaped from family ancestors; the young ones just continue where the parents left off real blessed ones.
However, for the majority of us, we need to plan & work hard. But being born poor or at the lower strata of society, in my opinion, presents more advantages than what we could irrationally consider as miseries. There are lots of things that people learn most while in poverty that the rich often overlooks in life. Scarcity makes us humble & aware of our self-limitations, which in turn, proves to be as strengths; and forces us to make the most out of every opportunity, amidst the trials of life. Then in each battle won, we might come out wounded but stronger, knocked down but never knocked out, and finally, we emerge even more courageous to face what lies ahead. No wonder, Jesus Christ says in the Holy Bible, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for they shall obtain heavenly kingdom" Gospel of Matthew. Chap 5 verse 3.
Majority of the great men & women of our civilization started out as poor. The likes of Abraham Lincoln, Shakespeare, our own Andres Bonifacio, Mabini, Francisco Balagtas, even Jose Rizal, sick & hard pressed for money abroad, before publishing Noli Me Tangere -- immortal examples that poverty is not a hindrance to success for missions in life.
Henry Ford, the great automobile maker, was once a typical mechanic; Henry Sy, the Philippines' tycoon, now controlling huge market share in retail, banking, insurance & property industries, was once a poor merchant of shoes in Carriedo, Quiapo during post-war era. The owner of CDO processed meat products, now contending with foreign brands, share the same experiences which proved beyond doubts, that anybody could be successful in life, if he/she wants to be such, no one can stop it, except him/herself.
William Shakespeare, the great English writer, was poor with no formal training, but yielded numerous world-acclaimed stories, plays, sonnets, majority of which are part of today's university curriculum. In one of his works, he said, "To be or not to be, that is the question!" No wonder, he made himself great, & many can't stop asking the question, how did he do it? Later, the world calls him, the Prince of Playwrights.
If poverty is not a hindrance, what are the keys to success in mission or ambition in life? What does it take to be successful, which in turn leads to honor, riches & comforts? Does anybody has equal share or access to these secrets?
The two major secrets for success are Need & Imagination. Thomas Edison, the great American inventor of more than 1,000 commercial products, foremost of which was the light bulb, said, "Need or necessity fuels imagination, & imagination plus hard work yield success."
While Albert Einstein, the Jewish physicist, who discovered the award-winning Theory of Relativity, benefiting the world of science many generations ahead, said, "Imagination is better than knowledge." Of course, he meant sensible imagination.
Now, allow me to convey the importance of Need & Imagination by way of a true-to-life story, as follows:
Asa Candler, was a typical storeowner in a poor city in the U.S. He was an average earner but with big plans for his family -- he wanted to be rich. He was always looking for an idea, be it a product or service that will impact greater number of people. One day, a drunk physician, who said he was sick & near death, came to Asa Candler's store, offering a piece of paper with a chemical formula written on it for $500. After two hours of discussion, Candler, finally agreed to buy this formula for $500 which was his entire life savings from his younger years. The piece of paper was an idea which Asa Candler ventured to believe would lead to great riches. Asa thought that this idea would be the world's first satisfier of a need, so great & universal that this product would be in demand worldwide -- a lesser evil alternative to liquor, which then & now accounts for dreadful miseries & sickness in life.
The drunk physician revealed to him that he offered it to many people in the past, but nobody bought it. Perhaps these people did not recognize the "need" due to lack of sensitivity sharpened by a focused mind & desire for such an idea just like what Candler has been accustomed to be searching for, ever since he said to himself he wanted to be rich.
Asa Candler could have thought that if this product will be in demand, it will give jobs to millions of people by selling it. Also, because this product needs sugar in it, it will boost the sugar industry giving wealth to sugar-growers worldwide. And because this product comes in a bottle & carton packaging, the glass & carton making sector will be revitalized, giving jobs to yet another millions -- thus benefiting the greater number of people.
Finally, because this product needs to be advertised, the writers, artists, commercial ads practitioners, radio & TV talents will earn with its huge sales. Do you know what this product is? This is none other than the ever pervasive, Coca-Cola soft drink. Come on, let's drink to that. And today, let's go & work our way to success, but watch your sugars, folks. What is money if you are sick? Buy the idea, not necessarily the product, be wise!
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