I believe true success isn’t just about wealth — it’s about inner strength and a smile that lasts through challenges

In the corporate world, we have traditionally defined success by the size of our paycheck, our position in the hierarchy, the number of people in our network, or the profits on our balance sheet. But that is a very limited way of perceiving success.

In businesses today, we need to have a strategy, a creative edge, right decision making (intuition), sharpness, and speed. While this requires the right skillsets, vision and resources, it also needs something deeper-the strength, clarity and life force energy that comes from within. Just as we do not forgo our hygiene in the pursuit of our business goals, one can no longer ignore one’s mental hygiene either, no matter what our profession is. To take good care of our minds, spiritual practices like meditation, reflection, and contemplation on timeless wisdom can be of great help. Unless we take care of our minds, any success we achieve is going to be short-lived and elusive.

We can’t play the role of a CEO or a manager all day. Who are we when we are sleeping? Are we an entrepreneur or a manager or a team lead? Just like sleep offers rest from all these labels, a few minutes of meditation or spending time in silence offers rest to the mind. And that brief pause gives you enormous energy to accomplish your goals with a smile on your face each day. Spirituality is not a detour from success; in fact, it is what gives it depth and sustainability.

Intuition, Not Just Information

Many business leaders will tell you: that one big idea, that one breakthrough, just flashed in their mind. Innovation and a clear vision of a future are products of an intuitive mind. And when our mind calms down, intuition is right there. A few minutes of meditation every day can bring you more awareness, clarity, and the right nudge.

Success without intuition is like walking blindfolded through a forest. You may have all the data, but data alone doesn’t give us insight. That insight is born in silence, when the stress and worry settle, and the intuitive intelligence begins to rise.

Competition Without Comparison

Competition becomes stressful when it turns into comparison. On the race track, we do not win by looking around to see who’s catching up; we win by singularly focusing on our own game. Pulling others down does not make one rise. We may be the market leader, but we need to see if we have outdone ourselves in any measure. Success comes when we improve our own past performance. All we need to do is, aim for growth over ego.

To win big, we do not have to isolate ourselves and live in perpetual insecurity. We must acknowledge others and the good work they do. A good relationship is never a deterrent to competitive spirit or ambition. When perceived in the right sense, it can, in fact make us better people and overall add value to our enterprises. We don’t have to be cunning or rude to be competitive and ambitious. We can be competitive, successful, and friendly at the same time. In one meal, we can have raita, and we can also have payasam. Nothing prevents us from having both.

Leadership Beyond the Ego

A good leader is not a dictator. Leadership is about listening, collaborating, and communicating, calmly, and confidently. Most of business is communication. Even the greatest ideas can fail if not communicated properly. Most of the disasters in businesses happen due to impulsiveness. One makes an impulsive decision that is followed by endless regret. For communication to be effective, it should be devoid of impulsiveness. Great communication, with a sense of confidence, is the outcome of a meditative mind. Communication with a calm, clear mind and a holistic vision, which involves the interest of all, helps us grow in business and personal life. At the root of highly effective communication is meditation, because that kind of clarity can come from silence alone. This forms the basis for happiness and abundance, which is what everyone wants at the end of the day.

Spirituality brings immense happiness in our lives, which is the goal of creating wealth. Suppose we have all the wealth of the world, but we are miserable. What good is that wealth? Wealth should bring us physical comfort and happiness in life. If it doesn’t achieve this goal, it remains unfulfilling.

With meditation, we can culture our mind to respond instead of react, and see the bigger picture. Just because an idea failed in the short term does not mean it will never work. It may just be a factor of time. When one has a bigger vision, the mind will not get stuck in trivial challenges or be discouraged by them. To take big decisions on what will work in the long run and what won't, one needs to be able to see the big picture, an ability that comes effortlessly with meditation.

And when communication happens from such an intuitive space, it builds teams, inspires trust, and makes businesses thrive, and not just survive.

Team spirit is built on celebrating diversity- diversity of personalities, their flaws and qualities. Everyone in your team doesn't need to be like you, and they shouldn’t be. Focus not on personalities, but on the goal. If the goal remains the priority, you’ll find ways to take everyone along.

This will help build a deeper and more meaningful bond among the teams. They will go back with renewed energy, calm, creativity, and a sense of enthusiasm to do more. There are two types of joy. One is the infant joy of receiving something and another is the more mature joy that comes from giving, which is long-lasting. I would urge everyone to experience the latter by contributing to society.

We don’t have to do what we cannot do for society. We will never be expected to give what we cannot give. But what we can do for others, within our means and by stretching ourselves a little outside of our comfort zone, we must do. It is not just in the millions we make, but in the quality of our giving and how we uplift others. One must consider one’s work sacred; earn for ourselves, and also share. Business, at its best, can become a tree that gives shade to many.

Maintaining a work-life balance is necessary today. When life outside work is rich and meaningful, your work too becomes more focused and productive. Meditation and spiritual wisdom allow you more time to build this beautiful balance skillfully. To attain peace, you do not have to run away to the Himalayas. You can be right where you are, and dive deep within to the cave of your heart, to find stillness and comfort.

Success is not just about what you get but who you become in the process. Do you smile more? Or does it disappear at the first sight of a challenge or a failure? See for yourself how strong your smile is; that is the real measure of your success.

I believe true success isn’t just about wealth — it’s about inner strength and a smile that lasts through challenges

In the corporate world, we have traditionally defined success by the size of our paycheck, our position in the hierarchy, the number of people in our network, or the profits on our balance sheet. But that is a very limited way of perceiving success.

In businesses today, we need to have a strategy, a creative edge, right decision making (intuition), sharpness, and speed. While this requires the right skillsets, vision and resources, it also needs something deeper-the strength, clarity and life force energy that comes from within. Just as we do not forgo our hygiene in the pursuit of our business goals, one can no longer ignore one’s mental hygiene either, no matter what our profession is. To take good care of our minds, spiritual practices like meditation, reflection, and contemplation on timeless wisdom can be of great help. Unless we take care of our minds, any success we achieve is going to be short-lived and elusive.

We can’t play the role of a CEO or a manager all day. Who are we when we are sleeping? Are we an entrepreneur or a manager or a team lead? Just like sleep offers rest from all these labels, a few minutes of meditation or spending time in silence offers rest to the mind. And that brief pause gives you enormous energy to accomplish your goals with a smile on your face each day. Spirituality is not a detour from success; in fact, it is what gives it depth and sustainability.

Intuition, Not Just Information

Many business leaders will tell you: that one big idea, that one breakthrough, just flashed in their mind. Innovation and a clear vision of a future are products of an intuitive mind. And when our mind calms down, intuition is right there. A few minutes of meditation every day can bring you more awareness, clarity, and the right nudge.

Success without intuition is like walking blindfolded through a forest. You may have all the data, but data alone doesn’t give us insight. That insight is born in silence, when the stress and worry settle, and the intuitive intelligence begins to rise.

Competition Without Comparison

Competition becomes stressful when it turns into comparison. On the race track, we do not win by looking around to see who’s catching up; we win by singularly focusing on our own game. Pulling others down does not make one rise. We may be the market leader, but we need to see if we have outdone ourselves in any measure. Success comes when we improve our own past performance. All we need to do is, aim for growth over ego.

To win big, we do not have to isolate ourselves and live in perpetual insecurity. We must acknowledge others and the good work they do. A good relationship is never a deterrent to competitive spirit or ambition. When perceived in the right sense, it can, in fact make us better people and overall add value to our enterprises. We don’t have to be cunning or rude to be competitive and ambitious. We can be competitive, successful, and friendly at the same time. In one meal, we can have raita, and we can also have payasam. Nothing prevents us from having both.

Leadership Beyond the Ego

A good leader is not a dictator. Leadership is about listening, collaborating, and communicating, calmly, and confidently. Most of business is communication. Even the greatest ideas can fail if not communicated properly. Most of the disasters in businesses happen due to impulsiveness. One makes an impulsive decision that is followed by endless regret. For communication to be effective, it should be devoid of impulsiveness. Great communication, with a sense of confidence, is the outcome of a meditative mind. Communication with a calm, clear mind and a holistic vision, which involves the interest of all, helps us grow in business and personal life. At the root of highly effective communication is meditation, because that kind of clarity can come from silence alone. This forms the basis for happiness and abundance, which is what everyone wants at the end of the day.

Spirituality brings immense happiness in our lives, which is the goal of creating wealth. Suppose we have all the wealth of the world, but we are miserable. What good is that wealth? Wealth should bring us physical comfort and happiness in life. If it doesn’t achieve this goal, it remains unfulfilling.

With meditation, we can culture our mind to respond instead of react, and see the bigger picture. Just because an idea failed in the short term does not mean it will never work. It may just be a factor of time. When one has a bigger vision, the mind will not get stuck in trivial challenges or be discouraged by them. To take big decisions on what will work in the long run and what won't, one needs to be able to see the big picture, an ability that comes effortlessly with meditation.

And when communication happens from such an intuitive space, it builds teams, inspires trust, and makes businesses thrive, and not just survive.

Team spirit is built on celebrating diversity- diversity of personalities, their flaws and qualities. Everyone in your team doesn't need to be like you, and they shouldn’t be. Focus not on personalities, but on the goal. If the goal remains the priority, you’ll find ways to take everyone along.

This will help build a deeper and more meaningful bond among the teams. They will go back with renewed energy, calm, creativity, and a sense of enthusiasm to do more. There are two types of joy. One is the infant joy of receiving something and another is the more mature joy that comes from giving, which is long-lasting. I would urge everyone to experience the latter by contributing to society.

We don’t have to do what we cannot do for society. We will never be expected to give what we cannot give. But what we can do for others, within our means and by stretching ourselves a little outside of our comfort zone, we must do. It is not just in the millions we make, but in the quality of our giving and how we uplift others. One must consider one’s work sacred; earn for ourselves, and also share. Business, at its best, can become a tree that gives shade to many.

Maintaining a work-life balance is necessary today. When life outside work is rich and meaningful, your work too becomes more focused and productive. Meditation and spiritual wisdom allow you more time to build this beautiful balance skillfully. To attain peace, you do not have to run away to the Himalayas. You can be right where you are, and dive deep within to the cave of your heart, to find stillness and comfort.

Success is not just about what you get but who you become in the process. Do you smile more? Or does it disappear at the first sight of a challenge or a failure? See for yourself how strong your smile is; that is the real measure of your success.