How FAR Would you go?
To what extent would you go to further your career prospects? Working hard is the right thing to do, but would you be dishonest, lie, cheat, steal, murder? What would be the last thing you imagine yourself doing?
Sometimes it is horrifying to read about things people do for a good career. In a recent book I read, Jacob Hills, one of the characters is so hell bent on furthering his career that he forces his wife to sleep with his bosses to win their favor. The sick idea consumes their life and relationship to an extent where it destroys his career. And all this is one of the most respected and sophisticated of institutions one can dream to work for - the army. It sends shivers down your spine that such things are underway in an organization, in a group of people you revere as a nation. And then again you know it is only a few bad apples that are out to spoil the image of these valorous people. Every organization has bad apples. The book, of course, has its share of the good army men as well, who value and respect their uniform. And it is these men who really matter.
But reading the book made me wonder why anyone would go to such lengths just for a higher rank, a higher pay? Is it worth losing your self esteem, your family/friends' respect? Is your career worth more than your relationship with your spouse? Even if such tactics were to win you a higher rank, wouldn’t it be more respectable, even when you look within yourself, to say that you earned it on your own merit? Would such a promotion not bring more satisfaction?
There are no shortcuts to success, though we all may want to believe otherwise. You have to earn your station in life, and nothing earned through a shortcut will last long or satisfy you enough. Hard work, commitment and honesty are virtues that would go a long way in taking you to the top. Here is hoping more people appreciate and implement that.
Sometimes it is horrifying to read about things people do for a good career. In a recent book I read, Jacob Hills, one of the characters is so hell bent on furthering his career that he forces his wife to sleep with his bosses to win their favor. The sick idea consumes their life and relationship to an extent where it destroys his career. And all this is one of the most respected and sophisticated of institutions one can dream to work for - the army. It sends shivers down your spine that such things are underway in an organization, in a group of people you revere as a nation. And then again you know it is only a few bad apples that are out to spoil the image of these valorous people. Every organization has bad apples. The book, of course, has its share of the good army men as well, who value and respect their uniform. And it is these men who really matter.
But reading the book made me wonder why anyone would go to such lengths just for a higher rank, a higher pay? Is it worth losing your self esteem, your family/friends' respect? Is your career worth more than your relationship with your spouse? Even if such tactics were to win you a higher rank, wouldn’t it be more respectable, even when you look within yourself, to say that you earned it on your own merit? Would such a promotion not bring more satisfaction?
There are no shortcuts to success, though we all may want to believe otherwise. You have to earn your station in life, and nothing earned through a shortcut will last long or satisfy you enough. Hard work, commitment and honesty are virtues that would go a long way in taking you to the top. Here is hoping more people appreciate and implement that.