Mirror
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Success
is… “Dreams will be the anchor that will sustain you when all else fails,” said Mohammad Ali, the greatest boxer of all times, and sharing the same viewpoint are Bathiya and Santhush, who say that it is their dreams that have brought them to where they are right now. “It is fair to say that, whatever a person consistently dreams about, he becomes,” says Santhush as Bathiya nods. Working as a team, the pair feel that there should be trust, understanding and objectivity to make a good team. They explained that success is not something that happens overnight. It takes a long time. “Till then you should be patient.” And keep dreaming. “Dreams certainly contribute to success, but they should also be dreams that have an element of reality,” says Channa, a young inventor, who is still on his way up the path of success. Having won prestigious competitions and awards for his inventions, this young mastermind says that all that is important to him is the invention revealing that things like awards, fame, winning competitions are not what’s important. “That will distract you from exercising your faculties to the fullest in order to successfully complete a task.” This young high flier discloses that there are a lot of setbacks on his path. “My way of facing obstructions is to take my time. I do not give up on what I want to do.” He expects obstacles as they provide a chance for him to learn. In retrospect, Indu Dharmasena says that he used to be a dreamer, but now prefers to think more practically saying, “I prefer to aim for what is possible to achieve.” For him, happiness and having interest in what one does goes hand in hand with success. “Wanting something and not working towards it could also be one reason why some people fail to become what they have always wanted to be.” “I am satisfied with what I have achieved so far,” says Dharmasena, who has staged several dramas over the years. Laughing at the idea that he was contacted in this regard, he revealed that his success as a dramatist is almost a surprise in the sense that he had wanted to be a doctor or a lawyer as a kid. “I never dreamt of getting into drama, although it had always been one of my interests. I started doing what I like,” he says, adding that the response of his audiences also inspires him in his work. Otara Chandiram, the Managing Director of ODEL wanted “to become a vet or do something connected with wild life.” That dream has been part realised through ODEL, which carries out numerous environmental projects. Talking of failures, she said that they have so far never occurred in her career. “There have been a few things that I wanted to happen which did not,” but such things have never disheartened her, rather they drive her in the pursuit for success. One should not depend on external things like luck, fate or destiny, she said adding, “I do not think they matter, as long as you are keen on what you do and interested in realising your goals.” Luck! That’s what lottery winner B.M. Chandrasekara says his success depends on. He revealed that the life he leads now is very different from that of five years ago, “before I won 10 million.” Today, he is the owner of a supermarket in Gampola and a shareholder of a well-acclaimed company. “It was important that I did not waste my money or bury it like a miser,” he says adding that his morals and principles also made a difference in his life. Famous artist Senaka Senanayaka reveals that he had always wanted to be a professional painter. Stating that painting was his hobby, he said that it gave him a lot of pleasure that his profession is also his passion. Religion inspires him in his work, he said. “My religious beliefs have made me understand that today’s world needs a lot of optimism.” Thus he tries to evoke “positive, happy feelings” through his work. Commenting on fate and destiny he says, “You create your own fate,” and with willpower, anything is possible. Mr. Rathnathunga, a retired government officer, said that to him success boils down to the fact that one is happy in his/her personal life. “It doesn’t matter if you are rich or famous. “Success to me is being able to admit that I am happy and that I have made others happy,” he says cuddling his grandchildren. It seems that the race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong. Success is for everyone. Preparation, planning and success-producing thought patterns are some of the ingredients that make for success. Most importantly, find that essential part of yourself that keeps you a-ticking and let that be your driving force. And, never give up. (File photos) What
does it take? He continued to say that a person is secure to the degree that he or she can accept change. You become secure not by standing still, but by growing, moving, and being energised. Your ultimate security is your understanding of reality. According to him, there is no permanent security on this earth: there is only opportunity. |
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Copyright © 2001 Wijeya Newspapers
Ltd. All rights reserved. |
If
success were a car, what would the fuel be? “Dreams,”
comes the prompt reply from Bathiya and Santhush. Dreams, as many
seem to believe, are like the road map to your future. Living without
a dream is like travelling to a strange city without a map. 
They
were of the opinion that luck and destiny play a part in being successful.
“But I don’t think it’s good to count on them
if you don’t commit yourself to hard work,” said Santhush.
He believes that individuals should be disciplined and prepared
to make sacrifices to get what they really want. “Determination
and believing in yourself are also key factors.”