Success is an Iceberg: My Thoughts

By: S.C. Ali

Founder/Author

A few weeks ago, a friend posted the above picture on social media. Typically, when I see shared posts I bypass them relatively quickly. However, this particular picture caught my eye.

In physical science, an iceberg floats in water because ice is less dense than water. Water is most dense at 4ºC in its liquid state, an anomaly in the science world. Because of the density difference, approximately one tenth of the ice floats above the water, and the other nine-tenths is submerged below the water.

The basic analogy drawn in the picture is simple. The road to success is long and hard, and when you reach the top (the apex of the iceberg), society recognizes it. However, unfortunately, many people do not understand and appreciate the road it takes in order to be successful. As a result, feelings of jealousy and envy may arise. However, these harbored feelings are weak and immature. If people valued more the determination and persistence that it takes in order to reach the top, there wouldn’t be jealousy, only admiration.

One example I am most familiar with is the road to becoming a physician. I am fortunate to have over 100 colleagues who are undergraduate students interested in medicine, medical students, or medical residents. Some individuals who are not healthcare professionals tend to glorify doctors. One of the first things I have heard time and time again from people is, “Oh, doctors make a lot of money.” Although doctors tend to be in the higher income strata, in the United States, they need to go through at least 11 years of school/training after high school before they reach the tip of their iceberg. Medical students who would like to pursue a residency in a more specialized field have to go through even more years of residency training before they achieve their goal. Residency is a tough road, as physicians are frequently overworked and underpaid during these years of training.

Some examples of current successful and prominent figures outside the medical realm include: Bill and Melinda Gates, Warren Buffet, Angela Merkel, and Janet Yellen. Although all of these individuals are reaping the rewards from their many years of hard work and determination at present, they all had their own trials and tribulations to go through before reaching there.

In essence, the qualities shown in the picture above are essential to success. The higher and more ambitious your goal, the steeper the hill will be to climb. However, the steeper the hill, the more rewarding the accomplishment when you reach the top. I implore you to set the example for society. Strive only for the best in whatever you pursue. Know that if you sincerely want the best, the road will be difficult and full of obstacles. However, the reward will be great. If you are serious about succeeding, it is imperative to master the qualities in the picture carefully. In doing so, you will acquire the capability to pave your own road to success. If there is someone who is highly successful among your cohort of family or friends, use them as an example. Ask them what they did or what they had to go through in order to reach where they are. Don’t just focus on the finished product, acknowledge and appreciate the process that it takes in order to reach that result.

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Persistence in the Pursuit of Success

By: S.C. Ali

Founder/Author

“Never, never, never give up.” These simple yet powerful words by the great Winston Churchill resonate with us all. They are also the embodiment of persistence. Persistence is a distinct personality trait, which is defined by Merriam Webster as, “the quality that allows someone to continue doing something or trying to do something even though it is difficult or opposed by other people”.

Persistence is an extremely important factor in success. The concept of success is highly subjective in nature, and can be applied to different circumstances. Whether the success is professional, personal, social, academic, spiritual, or anything in between, persistence is paramount. Regardless, history has proven time and time again that a common thread in pursuing success is: persistence.

Thomas Edison, one of the most prolific inventors of the last 150 years, was subjected to humor as a child in school because his mind often wandered. However, his mother was instrumental in educating him to become one of the greatest inventors. In fact, many of the electronic devices that we use today are in large part due to evolution of Edison’s inventions. He famously quipped, “Genius is one percent inspiration, and ninety-nine percent perspiration.” In other words, the determination and will to move forward regardless of hardship is what will drive you to success.

Aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart is another quintessential example of persistence. When she discovered her passion for flying after being flown in a plane by aviator Frank Hawks, she stayed affixed on her goal to become a great pilot. Because flying lessons were expensive, she worked multiple jobs. According to aviationhistory.org, she worked as a, “photographer, truck driver, and stenographer at the local telephone company” in order to afford the lessons. Because airplanes were a novel means of transportation in the 1920s, it involved intense training. However, Earhart persisted and eventually became the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean.

How can persistence be implemented in your life? The first step involves proper goal setting. This is done through careful planning. Please see my New Year’s Resolution article for more details. After composing a specific list of goals and the steps to reach them, it is important to evaluate yourself frequently to monitor your progress. Persistence will play a part in the execution of your goals. In addition, you must expect difficulties in order to succeed. Steve Harvey has said, “The road to success is always under construction.” This is very true, because part of the journey is to struggle. Here are some tips to persist:

1. Have a good support system. This is essential to pursue success via persistence. Whether it is a group of people or one loved one, nobody does it alone. Looking at the aforementioned examples, Thomas Edison had his mother, and Amelia Earhart had her parents. When the difficulties arise, discuss them with your confidants.

2. Do not sidestep the issue. One of the most common reactions when facing a difficulty in pursuit of one’s goal is to ignore the difficulty and find alternatives. Ignoring the issue at hand will only make things worse. Have the courage to face the difficulty head on.

3. Never give up. Again, we come back to the fundamental concept implemented by Winston Churchill. When the going gets tough, remember the big goal. Personally, I find writing the major goals on a piece of paper helpful. When facing a difficulty, I refer back to that paper. Seeing it written on paper rather than just thinking about it does make a difference.

In essence, persistence is critical for success. No matter what goal you aspire to, there will always be challenges. However, what will make you different and allow you to be successful is how you deal with the challenges and move forward. In fact, the most successful people of the past and present have probably faced the greatest challenges at some point. Now is the time to implement my suggestions for yourself. In addition, read about successful figures in history, see how they pursued success, and implement the techniques. By doing so, you will live a happy and fulfilling life.

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