Becoming an Overnight Success
Well, first of all, the title of this composition is not valid. No one becomes an overnight success. Then too, what kind of success are we discussing? Individuals may be successful in a professional sports career, success in healthcare, financial, business, music, engineering, or academics.
One may be successful in relationships and fulfilling spiritual life. How is success measured? Is success gaining prestige? Is success acquiring wealth? Is success enjoying the intimacy of a loving relationship? These achievement types did not come overnight as if purchasing the winning lottery ticket or pulling a rabbit out of a magician’s hat.
Being successful, everyone pays the price; that is, we work at it. Success is not a matter of luck. Achieving success does not come quickly. It is just that so many jealous or envious people seem to think so. Eddie Cantor, a comedian, songwriter, and singer who wrote “Merrily We Roll Along,” said, “It takes twenty years to become an overnight success.”
All of us see the drive, the desire for success as an adventurous journey. Success begins within. Know thyself declares, Socrates, the famous Greek philosopher. Self-knowledge and self-awareness are vital to our success.
So many do not realize the wisdom and depth of the classic movie, The Wizard of Oz. L. Frank Baum, author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Before the tornado, Dorothy sought a land where your dreams you dare to do can come true. When in Oz, her new friends seek knowledge, a heart, and courage. The key is that they did not need to seek the wizard at all! All of them had it in themselves the whole time. Then too, who they sought for help, was a fake!
No one should be quick to be jealous or make snap judgments of another’s a success. There is no doubt that all successful individuals overcome doubt, fear, lack of confidence, failures, laziness, and bouts of apathy before becoming a success.
So often, successful people are calm and serene. They exude confidence with humility and gratefulness. While these successful individuals still work, a metaphor comes to mind. Have you watched a duck swim in a pond? They appear to glide so effortlessly across the water. But if you could see below the water, their webbed feet paddle frantically.
It reflects and ponders that we find what our heart tells us we most deeply need to seek. It allows us to see our likes, desires, passion. When making our goals, we should find ways to use our endeavors for the good of our fellow man and all the world, and ourselves. Pursuing our personal goals while helping others allows us to attain the highest level we are capable of reaching. You will get to your summit.
Success comes from working at it. One works each day and takes each day as it comes and doing the best we can. Make a positive difference in the world by achieving goals, striving for personal excellence, and leaving your mark on the world in a positive way. It is then one finds life rewarding and fulfilling.
