You Don't Have to Degrade Others for Your Success
There are other ways.
In this competitive world, why do we have to compete with everyone at every time? We were told about cooperation in childhood. Isn’t it ridiculous that after ages we are being given the same lessons? It’s because we didn’t learn what was worth learning. Why? Because its benefits weren’t obvious. But the alliance has its role in success.
Since the time I read Stephen Covey’s fourth habit from The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, I couldn’t let go of one thought. For you to win, another person doesn’t have to lose. Why we can’t see the ill effects of degrading others (or at least trying to degrade others)? As he says, cooperation can help us in the long run. But we don’t believe so.
From everyday life to professional life, we are combating this issue. Sometimes, overruled by others. At times overruling others. There is a disastrous lack of patience in people and they can’t wait to have their way. But this isn’t going to help as in one way or another we are dependent on one another. We need to cooperate and understand each other for a better life.
I have read articles on Medium of the people who got some lousy comments on their stories. It is supposed to be an act of debasing their writings. Such an awful way to behave. That shouldn’t be done because if someone is successful, why can’t be. And how his failure has got anything to do with your success?
“Opinion has caused more trouble on this little earth than plagues or earthquakes.”
-Voltaire
I think we get the fruits of our good intention and suffer from our bad motives. So, conspiring against someone isn’t going to help. Focus on your success but learn from the people. If you don’t like someone’s opinion, learn even then but keep your opinions to yourself. Your words show what you are.
This happens in mundane life too. In everyday life, we have to encounter all sorts of people. Being bossy isn’t going to help. Win-win thinking pays off. Disagreement is justified. But stealing the right to share opinions isn’t. There has to be a way to avoid bitterness. Life is about cooperation. It’s about learning the lessons along the way. We have to respect other person's rights otherwise we would be disrespected.
“Many people think in terms of either/or: either you’re nice or you’re tough. Win-win requires that you be both. It is a balancing act between courage and consideration. To go for a win-win, you not only have to be empathic, but you also have to be confident. You not only have to be considerate and sensitive, but you also have to be brave. To do that-to achieve that balance between courage and consideration-is the essence of real maturity and is fundamental to win-win.”
-Stephen Covey
Everyone has his way of looking and dealing with things. Life needs openness. By degrading someone, how you can get somewhere?
