There is an eternal search for that one “Key to Success” or the “Mantra to Successful life”. We expect it to be a once in a lifetime advice or some very powerful chant that takes you from current level to the top of the success ladder. While we assign too much importance to all these and neglect the seemingly simple tasks that actually build the foundation. The Soil that holds Bamboo shoots for years before it launches and becomes a grown Bamboo tree in matter of weeks.
In this article I will try to share my learnings from different paths of life and try to merge them to enlighten the path that could lead to understanding of success.
I am reading a book “The Cancer Code” by Jason Fung. In this book the author has shared an amazing framework he which has since stuck with me –
The Seed, The Soil & The Environment.
Basically, what he infers is Cancer can be understood with the concept of The Seed, The Soil & The Environment.
In this book he refers to following:
The Seed: Main Cancer causing elements – external or internal e.g: inflammation, cell degradation, etc.
The Soil: Our Body & ingredients we consume – Junk Food, too much carcinogenic content, etc.
The Environment: External stimulus like Smoking, Consumption of cancer causing media, Asbestos, etc.
So, in a nutshell what author implies is as follows:
If seed is good but soil & atmosphere is bad – it’s doesn’t grow to be a tree, similarly if Seed & Atmosphere is good but the soil is bad – you will still not have optimum results. So, for great Results you need all 3 to be good at the same time.
Now just let it stick in context of life & careers.
The Seed – It’s You – Your skills, capabilities, attitude, temperament etc.
The Soil – It’s your Home / Organization – whether it’s supportive, does it offer good opportunities, does it provide the base for your growth.
The Environment – The Culture & people around you – whether it’s home or company. Do you have good support system, do others look up for you or put you down, do you have cohesive atmosphere or a depressing one.
While personally I feel one has complete control on the first, no significant control over the last, one can choose on second and also control one’s reactions to second.
Your skills, temperament, attitude will define you. The environment you act as a catalyst to your progress and will add or deplete the energy in your move forward. But what will create a differentiation for you is how you handle your Soil – how you develop your home or Organization, how you react to stimulus, how you drive or make decisions when you are presented with opportunity or challenge.
Personally, I feel we overestimate the impact of Environment. We almost always underplay the role of Soil, our own actions that drive the results.
Please share your views and comments on the above framework & do you feel it makes sense.
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