Some cultures give people the message that there are many ways to be successful. They encourage people to build on their strengths and follow different ways to achieve their view of success.
Some cultures give people the message that there is only one way to be successful. They may put the emphasis on, for example, people being told that making money is the only way to achieve success.
Different people follow these approaches in different ways. Let’s explore how they may translate these into action.
There Are Many Ways
To Be Successful Approach
Some families, schools, organisations, communities and societies follow this approach in their own ways. They follow the philosophy of building cultures that are based on similarity of spirit and diversity of strengths.
Such cultures encourage people to follow certain human principles to create an encouraging environment. Building on this base, they also recognise that people have different strengths and aspirations.
They therefore give people the following kinds of messages. They say to people that, providing they don’t hurt other people, they can aim:
To build on their strengths … To do satisfying things … To achieve their view of success.
Such places make a positive contract with people. They aim to provide people with the basic materials for life. They then, in return, encourage people to follow certain principles to live and work well together.
They encourage people to take charge of their lives and work towards achieving their life goals. They also encourage them to build on their uniqueness and, if they wish, aim to become the best they can be.
Such cultures recognise there are many ways to be successful. These include doing their best as a person, parent, educator, artist, athlete, technician, professional or by achieving other goals.
Some people take another approach. Let’s explore this theme.
There Is Only One Way
To Be Successful Approach
Some cultures give people the message that there is only own way to be successful. They may, for example, say that this approach involves becoming one of the crowd, making money and achieving material success.
Such places may tell people to ignore their strengths. They should instead go to standardised schools and compete against others. They may then aim to do exams and gain badges that may or may not help them in the evolving world of work.
Arnold Toynbee, the historian, said that some civilisations commit suicide rather than simply die. They do so by developing hubris and enforcing conformity. They may also drive out the creative thinking that could save them.
Toynbee believed that some forms of consistency – such as follow certain humanistic values – was vital. Societies would only flourish, however, if they also harnessed their creativity to anticipate and find solutions to challenges.
There are many ways to live life. Some cultures flourish by encouraging people to see there are many ways to be successful. Some cultures follow the opposite approach.
Let’s return to your own life. Looking ahead, can you think of a situation where you may want to follow elements the many ways to be successful approach? How could you do this in your own way?
If you wish, try tackling the exercise on this theme. This invites you to complete the following sentences.
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