Recently, I came across Success Vs. Joy, a book co-authored by Geet Sethi, the legendary billiards superstar world champion from India (the other co-author is Sunil Agarwal). This 62-page “book” is a compilation of Sethi’s insights as a world-class billiards player willing to share his philosophy of what it takes to become world-class and what it means to be “successful.” He posits that “success,” as we know it, is a social artifact and not intrinsic, whereas joy that we derive from achievement of our purpose is truly intrinsic and inheres in the person who achieves it. No one can take that away from the person. Sethi implores that we must strive for joy and not for success in all our endeavors!
How is this philosophy relevant to managing your career and what he posits in his short book? Here is how I would like to translate Sethi’s insights when they relate to managing your career. These statements are my interpretations of the book’s message as it relates to our everyday pursuits in our life and career:
- Find your purpose and devote all your energies to pursuing that purpose (this is one of the hardest things for most people to identify and pursue).
- Once you are on your Path find your Sweet Spot and constantly work to improve yourself as you work your craft to make that Sweet Spot even sweeter! In this pursuit you will find joy (with or without success and fame)!
- In all your engagements make sure that your body, mind, and soul are aligned. Any misalignment will make you a second-rate player in your craft. For complete mastery of your craft (Personal Mastery) only an aligned person can claim that state.
- Become aware of the eight human intelligences (linguistic, logical-mathematical, musical, interpersonal, intrapersonal, bodily-kinesthetic, naturalist, and spatial) and use this knowledge to uncover your genius as a peeking window to your joy through applying the right intelligence in all your endeavors.
- Multi-tasking, though tempting as a shortcut, distracts you from achieving excellence in your endeavors. Learn how to focus on only one thing and then move on to the next.
- Even a slight distraction, however fleeting, of focus at critical times can reduce your efforts to suboptimal outcomes. Learn how to master focus and give each task your best efforts. Learn how to stay in the moment.
- Learn how to engage yourself in your craft with abandon. When you learn this “simple” discipline the Universe will come to help you in ways you cannot imagine. This is where and when you become one with the Universe!
- Be humble. Humility is the essence of joyous existence.
- Take charge of your destiny by stamping out the word “if” from your vocabulary.
- Make time for your family and credit them for their sacrifices in your journey!
Any meaningful pursuit in one’s life demands the same singular dedication and commitment. Once you find your purpose in life learn how to apply these 10 rules to pursue joy in your own life and your career.
Good luck!