Searching for the Cornerstone of Success

The Foundations of Achievement: Exploring the Cornerstones of Success

Achievement is a goal everyone pursues throughout life, and many crucial factors play a decisive role in reaching it.

We can draw abundant lessons about how to achieve success from the wisdom of the ancients. "Sincerity" was regarded as the source of all virtue and the foundation of achievement. The Doctrine of the Mean states, "Sincerity that leads to understanding is nature; understanding that leads to sincerity is instruction." Sincerity is the law governing both the Way of Heaven and the way of humanity. Only by being sincere can one attain wisdom and succeed in life. At work, maintaining a sincere attitude and refusing to deceive, cut corners, or cheat are essential to achieving success.

"Integrity" is another essential foundation for achievement. As the ancients said, "Integrity is the foundation of governance." It is the basis of public service and, indeed, of achievement itself. Honest officials put the people's interests first and are able to accomplish great things. Yang Xu, the Eastern Han governor of Nanyang, famously hung a fish to refuse a bribe and worked to solve the people's problems, eventually rising to the post of Grand Master of Ceremonies. Hai Rui of the Ming dynasty punished corrupt officials and was hailed by the people as "Hai the Just." By contrast, corrupt officials put their own interests above those of the country and its people to satisfy their private desires, ultimately ruining themselves. Zhao Gao, who called a deer a horse; Liu Jin, who enriched himself through bribes; and Heshen, who amassed a fortune, all helped hasten the decline of their dynasties.

Focus is also an indispensable quality for achievement. Zeng Guofan said, "When undertaking a task, one must devote one's full attention to it and persevere from beginning to end. Do not be fickle, thinking of one thing while doing another, or sitting on one mountain while gazing at another. A person without perseverance will accomplish nothing in a lifetime." Only by working with complete concentration and persistence can we steadily build on our efforts and achieve our goals.