Saturday, December 27, 2008

Why life is non-linear.

Yesterday I dared to struggle. Today I dare to win.
- Bernadette Devlin

O : The Start.
This is the beginning of all achievements in life : zero effort, zero result.

OA : The Linear Region.
The slippery zone of fast-and easy 'success' : it is a routine, reversible zone, where many waste time swinging incessantly. A slight slack in effort sends you sliding down AO. This zone of betrayal has to be traversed fast with consistent efforts, preparing mentally for the Saddle. Mediocrity have a tough time even reaching A. Few reach this threshold, from where the actual fight begins.

A : The Notch.
It is the culmination of the linear zone, providing you with a foothold. The non-linearity of success begins from here. The image of the Notch A is A', in the region of true, sustained success. Most of us get complacent at the Notch, deluded by A', where we assume ourselves to be. Don't mistakenly believe yourself to be invulnerable. You, instead, need a change of strategy which acknowledges the altered pattern of success. Repeating the linear strategy does not repeat the hitherto success. Reaching A simply generates the hope that you might, sometime in future, reach A'. It also encourages you to invest your time and energy to realize success. [The reward for work well done is the opportunity to do more - Jonas Salk]

AB : The Underground Zone.
This is the inconspicuous zone, when you put in above-average effort without getting immediate results. It tests your patience, willpower and perseverance. Here, you lay the foundation of long-term success by stretching yourself beyond your comfort zone. Your life has a single focus and your schedule has a single priority. You may miss the attention you received climbing the linear region. You will also require the patience to prevent disappointments from setting in. This withdrawal phase is marked with introspection, steadying of yourself, objective reflection and improvisations.

AB' : Downhill
The lack of tenacity here will send you for a free-fall towards Failure B'. While you actually traverse AB, the world would perceive you to be traversing AB'. Be ready to hear that "you were a one-time-wonder". Be patient, yet silent. 
B : The Saddle.
It is the point of reversal in the latent zone : the culmination of your tenacious efforts. With planning and strategy, you get the 'raw feeling' of toil and hard-work. Your underground state may be misinterpreted as your recession, with others disappointed with your abilities. You need to withstand the opposing tide of hopelessness of the people around you.

B' : Failure.
It is the virtual image of B, where you would be perceived to be. You are presumed to be out of the scene, a blink-and-you-miss wannabe.
Greatness is not in where we stand, but in what direction we are moving. We must sail sometimes with the wind and sometimes against it -- but sail we must and not drift, nor lie at anchor - Oliver Wendell Holmes

AB'A'BA Area : Hard-and-Smart work
The shaded region is the hoarded, accumulated, sharpened knowledge-and-skill set, coupled with intelligent circulation, measured opinion-seeking, and an overall low-key profile. Don't bother to clarify that you are "down-but-not-out". Those who rejoice at your downfall are all set for a surprise.
The foundation of the building is ready, though the building is not yet visible to the outside observer. Your investments will now start producing the desired returns. But all investments involve a risk. Do you risk enough to succeed?

BC : True Success.
The saddle starts bearing fruit. Getting results becomes easier. Traversing the real A', instead of its virtual image A, you ARRIVE, again! Your rise-and-rise gathers momentum, substantiated by an unshakable foundation. You begin to prove that you are worth others' attention.
The success function now has not only a positive slope, but also a positive curvature. You are catapulted to a different league of success and achievement.

B'A'C : Virtual success.
This is the locus of success that the world will perceive you to be traversing, as if 'back-from-the-dead'.

C : Conspicuousness.
Your success becomes visible. You gain professional respect and social esteem. Others begin to look up to you as an example, wanting to learn from you and emulate you. Wining becomes your habit, without turning your head.

CD : The Outstanding.
It is the icing on the cake of effort. Little efforts bring big successes. You win admiration, mass support, media attention, publicity. You become a contemporary phenomenon, a larger-than-life entity.

D : Immortality.
You go down in history, perhaps beyond history. The 4th dimension of the universe is defeated. Time surrenders to timelessness, embodied in you.
Akbar : famous in history, as the Great Emperor of India from 1556-1605 (A strip of the time-axis).
Newton : famous beyond history, as the unit for Force (nothing to do with his DOB or DOD).
I must admit that I personally measure success in terms of the contributions an individual makes to her or his fellow human beings - Margaret Mead
May you climb from peak to peak!
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http://www.successmagazine.com/
http://pages.intnet.mu/ghosh/poems/poems/eikorech.htm

2 comments:

Nikhil said...

A mathematical summary of a life that very often leaves logical reasoning. Maybe life is after all understandable. Have you solved it?!

Sphinx said...

Thank you very much.
I got a new perspective to life and success.