Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam, or better known as A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, was many things. He was a scientist, a teacher, and President of India from 2002-2007. But he is most remembered across the world as a brilliant and inspirational man.
In this article, I’ll share with you four of Kalam’s lessons that have helped my journey to success in a positive way. Hopefully, they’ll do the same for you.
Lesson #1: Have Goals and Be Ready to Fight For Them
Kalam regularly warned his young listeners that the world is trying its best to make them like everyone else. He encouraged them to be unique, to have goals, and to be ready to fight for both when needed.
No matter what your age is, you’ll need to remind yourself that, too. What’s your identity? What are your goals? Are you ready and willing to fight for them?
When you’re ready to sacrifice for both, then there’s no telling how far you’ll go.
Lesson #2: Learn How to Handle Failure
Kalam once said that good managers must be “captains of problems and failures,” and should always be solving problems and moving forward.
This lesson impacted me in two ways:
1. First, I had to get rid of my fear of failure. I flunked exams, went through bankruptcy, and failed a relationship. If it weren’t for Kalam, I wouldn’t have kept going and eventually succeeded.
2. Secondly, I had to keep subsequent failures from stopping me in my tracks. I learned the hard way that success is really one failure after another, just moving forward one step at a time.
Lesson #3: Work With Integrity
Whether you’re a businessman, a corporate worker, a freelancer, an entrepreneur, or anything else in between… the world is a cut-throat place. Most times, it seems like it’s “every man for himself,” all the way down to the office politics level. It’s tempting to think it’s the status quo.
It’s not. And it shouldn’t be. So don’t conform to it.
Kalam taught me that the world’s most trusted leaders — and the ones who leave a lasting legacy — are the ones who are transparent. They work with integrity, and they succeed with integrity … no matter how corrupt the business world may be.
Lesson #4: Teach and Inspire Others
I’m in the business of building millionaires. My goal isn’t just to get rich, but to make other people rich along the way, as well.
Who taught me that lesson? Kalam.
Likewise, ask yourself about your line of work. How can you inspire others? How can you teach others to be great in your own small way?
A.P.J. Abdul Kalam has left the world a legacy of inspiration, integrity, hard work, and the relentless pursuit of knowledge. Applying his lessons to my own life and businesses has helped me not only become more successful in both, but also added to my enjoyment of them.
Hopefully, they’ll do the same for you and yours, as well.
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Photo: Getty Images