67.7 Firmness in Action

 67.7 Firmness in Action

 

Question:

          What to do if we encounter difficulties while doing something?

Answer:

Despite excessive hardships, one must do with

firmness the deeds that bring delight in the end.           (Couplet – 669)

துன்பம் உறவரினும் செய்க துணிவாற்றி

இன்பம் பயக்கும் வினை.                                            (குறள் – 669)

Explanation:

              If what we are doing is worthwhile and likely to give us happiness, we should do it despite all hardships. Many successful people have endured major difficulties and finally succeeded and found happiness and satisfaction. History has several examples of people undaunted by adversities and marched towards success. The following paragraphs provide examples of three people who became successful despite adverse circumstances. Two of them are currently alive, and one of them recently passed away.

There was a young woman in the UK. Her ambition was to become a successful writer. Early in her life, she encountered many difficulties. Her mother suffered from multiple sclerosis and died. She had a strained relationship with her father. She was abused by her husband. Her marriage ended in divorce in three short years. She was a jobless single mother living like a homeless person. At one point, she thought she was the biggest failure. She was determined and overcame her difficulties and became a successful author. Her books sold over 500 million copies, were translated into at least seventy languages, and spawned a global media franchise, including films and video games. She is now a celebrity, a billionaire, and a philanthropist. She is none other than J. K. Rowling, the famous author of the Harry Potter seven-volume children’s fantasy series.

A young black boy wanted to play basketball on his school team. At first, the basketball coach did not consider him good enough for the team because he did not meet the height requirement. But the young man was persistent in his goal of becoming a basketball player. Later, he did play in the National Basketball Association’s major league teams in the USA. In his career, he lost 300 games. On several occasions, when he was trusted to make the game-winning shot, he missed. He failed over and over in his life as a basketball player. But despite all these failures, he became one of the greatest basketball players of all time because of his invincible motivation. That boy is none other than the famous basketball player Michael Jordan.

In the 1970s, a young man started a computer company in his garage. His computer was so successful that his company became very successful in a few short years and was listed on the stock market. He became the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of his successful company. After a few years, during the company’s downturn, the young man who was the CEO was fired from the company he founded. Undeterred by his termination, motivated by his entrepreneurial instinct, he started two other companies which were very successful and got the attention of the digital market. In the meantime, the original company he founded continued to do poorly. The Board of Directors decided that the founder was the only one who could salvage the company, introduce new technological innovations, and revive the company. They appointed him as the CEO again. The young man became the turnaround artist, and the company reached its pinnacle of success with a series of innovative products that revolutionized the digital products marketplace. The young innovator and marketing genius was none other than Steve Jobs, the founder, President, and CEO of Apple, Inc.