This inspiring guest post comes from Tristan Bishop. From his early days defining the knowledge management vision for the first online bank (Wells Fargo) to his current role at Symantec, Tristan is a role model for thought leadership and generosity. The BIG team is delighted he’s sharing his insightful views here!
In rare cases, a concept can be more easily defined by describing what it ISN’T, rather than what it is. For example, many Physicists describe “darkness” as “the absence of light.”
The Physics Classroom states it this way:
“Black is not actually a color. Technically speaking, black is merely the absence of the wavelengths of the visible light spectrum.”
Much like darkness, success is a concept best described by what it isn’t. Just as all that glitters isn’t gold, that which seems to be successful isn’t always so. When most folks think of success, they associate it with achieving a given objective. But true success is deeper and richer than this. There is a subtle difference between genuine success and moral failure: a thin dividing line that many miss.
4 paths for success
Here’s the D.E.A.L.
I propose that true success lies in achieving the objective, WITHOUT sacrificing in these four areas:
1. Devotion
The most common regret expressed by the dearly departing is that they spent too much time striving and not enough time connecting. As the saying goes, no headstone reads “If only I’d spent more time at the office.”
Consider this: If turning a profit requires turning your back on loved ones, can such an endeavor truly be called a success?
2.Ethics
Although no one begins an initiative with a plan to stray from their moral compass, temptations and shortcuts inevitably show. Amazingly, there ARE those who reluctantly choose astounding profit with a side of guilt over modest profit and a clear conscience.
Consider this:If an objective is met at the expense of one’s own ethics, can it truly be called a success?
3. Altruism
Ambition is a powerful thing, and like most forms of power, it can be used for good or ill. The way to measure if ambition if healthy or corrupt is by taking a sober look at who benefits from the resulting achievements. If many prosper through the ambition of one, the ambition was pure, and led to success.
Consider this: If you’re the only one to benefit from your victory, can it truly be called a success?
4. Loyalty
Notable tennis champion Althea Gibson has famously said, “No matter what accomplishments you make, somebody helped you.” I believe this to be true of nearly all victories. But as projects meet with inevitable complications, many blame partners and absolve themselves. When stakes are high, too many dispose of relationships in order to protect reputation.
Consider this: If you break trust in order to claim credit, can the accomplishment truly be called a success?
So you see, subtle though it may be, supposed success that demands such sacrifices is simply no success at all. So be true to your values and honor your conscience. You’ll reap the reward of genuine victory in your life and leadership.
Image source before quote: morgueFile.com
Great post! i’m a firm believer that the “how” is just as important as the “what” is accomplished. The deterioration of old fashioned ethics has caused a lot of pain and loss for many organizations. Keep talking, I like it!
Yes! The ends seldom justify the means. At the end of the adventure, we need conscience more than treasure! I appreciate it Kathy.
Tristan,
I would like this post to ring out to every media channel in the world. When you think of so many ongoing and/or recent problems (crash of the economy, ongoing wars/conflicts) — it can be traced to one of these four areas.
I often say when people seek balance, everyone can find success. When people seek success only for themselves (greed) – everyone will fail in the end.
You can really “go for it” in this world, if you at least consider a sense of balance — your four points — along the way.
Sadly I think many believe that if you are thinking balance, you will not win. So untrue.
Excellent, excellent post.Many thanks for this one!
Kate
You are most welcome Kate. I’m grateful that Jane encouraged me to put this message in play. And you’re so right: these safeguards would have made a difference in recent years. I wrote this from the perspective of protecting one’s own conscience. But I hadn’t considered that, in so doing, one also protects the needs of the many from the faults of the few.
Tristan, I enjoyed your post. Jane, Dan (LeadershipFreak) thanks for bringing it to my attention!
I couldn’t agree more with each tenets above, and would love to see D.E.A.L taught in K-12. Seriously.
As an aside, but perhaps worth mentioning, I have a small twist on altruism: I don’t really believe in it.
In my opinion, Altruism is an exalted form of selfishness. When we do for others, we cannot help but do for ourselves (in more ways than one).
In my own experience, it is not possible to escape this connection. It seems to me that perhaps the most joyous experiences are when one’s most cherished affinities, talents, thoughts, choices and actions are benefitting others. This kind of alignment creates magic. 🙂
Kind Regards,
Mark
Thanks so much, Mark. Wow: I would love to see D.E.A.L taught in schools too. Maybe we can get that done! 🙂
I appreciate your aside. If the word “servanthood” began with the letter “A,” I may have chosen that instead. But I understand your point, regarding altruism. And you’re right, that alignment you speak of is deeply fullfiling.
Great to connect! I found and am following @DesireEngine (I think that’s you?)
Thank you, Tristan. Yeah, maybe we CAN get it done. I like that idea.
Yes, I am still @DesireEngine on twitter, though thinking about aligning that (haha) with the new Website title. Will look you up there, too…
~M
Thanks so much for inviting Tristan to share this insightful post. Tristan, thanks for taking this one small word and extending it to create powerful statements about the deepest and most important elements of success. I’ve bookmarked this one for its challenging and uplifting message.
I appreciate your kind words, Lori. Thank you for your consistent encouragement.