The meaning and sense of the word, "SUCCESS", is as many as there are individuals or group of persons vying to "Be It" or "Have It" as the case may be.
The American Heritage Dictionary, 3rd Edition of 1994, defines Success as the achievement of something attempted; the gaining of fame and prosperity.
Following my 2-year sabbatical (1986-1988) in the home town of my wife and in-laws in the province of Pangasinan, Philippines, I decided to make a come-back and re-entered the world of commercial & trading business by working as a buddy of the owner-manager of a medium-scale garment manufacturing firm in San Juan City, NCR.
Virtually playing the role of an "Alter Ego" of the General Manager-Proprietor, not only was I put at a privileged pedestal in the hierarchy of the organization, but I have had the ease of access to the inner sanctuary of the boss' thoughts, feelings, sentiments & temperaments.
Manager July, as his workers would address him, is a phenomenal success in his own right. From a mere technician-employee of a garment manufacturing firm in Mandaluyong City in the late 1960s to early 1970s, he eventually ventured into an enterprise of his own.
His case is a typical "Rags-to-riches" success story. For, within one turbulent decade since its inception in the early 1970s, Manager July's business progressively grew and expanded despite the socio-economic-political quake that rocked and virtually devastated the fledgling Philippine Republic, during and after Martial Law was declared by then President & Commander-in-chief Ferdinand E. Marcos in September 21, 1972.
In his high-spirited speech before the general assembly of all company workers in March 27, 1991, Manager July delivered his fresh and new insight on the meaning of Success as he actually enjoyed it, lived with it, and learned the depth & breadth of its practical sense. He confessed that at first, particularly at the height of his rising socio-economic stature & power of influence that he thought he already made a real success in life. But this time in his speech, Manager July painted a rather mystical portrait of what success is, after all.
In a nutshell, he said, "SUCCESS IS A JOURNEY...". Being a man of few words, he didn't elaborate further on what he said. I discerned though that success is not something that stops and ends when and where economic wealth or material possessions are acquired & possessed to bolster a person's pride of life. Rather, Success is something that continually grows, bears plentiful fruits, and progressively prospering from glory to glory in an endless enjoyment of inner rewards & fulfilment, not only for one's own satisfaction and contentment, but even so for the well-being and enjoyment of those who painstakingly work and stick it out with him through thick & thin in the journey-through-entrepreneurial life.
Sounds profound and lofty, but a wonderful picture of real success. Don't you agree?
Come on, Friends, let's go for success in Peace, Joy, Love, Goodwill, Good Health, and Wisdom which no amount of silver or gold can buy!
By the way, Manager July is just around in low-profile enjoying the prime of his life while staying close to nature in his 25-hectare orchard & integrated farm in the province of Rizal.
