Seven Ds for success

Nalaka WEERAMAN

FORMULA FOR SUCCESS: Most of the readers I'm sure would remember the period late President Ranasinghe Premadasa emphatically spoke of the 3Cs - Consultation, Compromise and Consensus, when he conscientiously tackled the intricate and difficult subject of achieving permanent peace, in Sri Lanka.

Similarly the knowledgeable students of marketing will remember the 4Ps Product, Price, Place and Promotion, which was later developed into 7 Ps with the service sector being taken into consideration, which has now been further developed into 12 Ps, by a learned Sri Lankan Marketing Consultant of repute.

In the same manner, the students of management will be quite familiar with the 5S Productivity System, diligently practised in Japan, which stands for Seiri, Seiton, Seiso, Seiketsu and Shitsuke, which mean Sort, set in order. Shine, Standardize and Sustain respectively.

Many of you are aware of the 8Ds or Eight Distinctions, thousands of eager students who sit for the GCE (Ordinary Level) make keen endeavours to achieve, which pertain various to the subjects they have selected.

In the same manner, for the benefit of young executives of the Private and Public sectors, self employed young businessmen and even prospective entrepreneurs.

I have personally thought of and put together a new innovative concept named Seven Ds for Success, which in my humble opinion could be made use of as a tool, by young personnel of any field or sector, whether it is Marketing, Business Management, Accountancy, Information Technology, Engineering or Medicine etc.

Desire - You should have a keen desire or actually a craving and longing to achieve your desired goals. This should be a conscientious and continuous process in your mind and actions, until the end of your carrier or retirement.

You should be able to prudently judge for yourself the prestigious position you would one day want to achieve and therefore continuously have an eagerness to strive for it so as to achieve the same.

You should not perform your given or allocated duties, just for the sake of doing a job and receiving a monthly remuneration, but conscientiously and continuously have a tremendous desire and lust to achieve the best results from your dedicated endeavours, so as to be the best performer in your team or division of the company or department you are attached to.

Development - The Development that I am taking into consideration here is Self Development, which aspect in my opinion is of great significance and importance.

In order to develop yourself, you should be prepared to make certain appropriate sacrifices, so as to prudently improve your basic knowledge in the particular field you have chosen.

If you have chosen the field of marketing and sales, then you should be continuously determined to learn more of marketing as a subject and continue to pursue the extensive process of advanced learning.

I would like to emphatically mention the importance of the English Language. Read various books, magazines and newspapers to improve your knowledge, and also it will assist you to improve your ability to write.

English is the widely accepted International Language and therefore your proficiency and ability to speak, read and write well, will immensely assist you to make presentations to the management or your subordinates, convince your views to dealers and customers. I

Determination - This is a continuous and recurring state of mind, you should have throughout your career. You should have a positive attitude and be continuously determined.

You should have an approach of motivated steadfastness to achieve the best in whatever you do and perform your task to the best of your ability.

Each and every task you perform or duty allocated to you by your immediate superior or the management of your organisation, should be willingly and readily accepted, as a welcome challenge.

You should not consider same, as an obstacle put in the way to obstruct or hinder your much desired progress.

You should always readily accept same as another opportunity to prove yourself once again to the senior management, your bold ability to satisfactorily perform the task, utilizing the limited resources available and the valuable skills you have painstakingly gained, combined with knowledge and practical experience.

Dignity - Please be always extremely mindful of your dignity, prior to making decisions and taking action subsequently, as per such decisions made.

Ensure that you are always extremely honest and truthful in your transactions and make every effort to be transparent, so as to meet any unexpected criticism.

Every action or transition, that take place should strongly and steadfastly uphold dignity and should not in anyway be a repulsive blemish or tarnish your good reputation and image built over the years.

Daring - Your approach and attitude towards facing problems and making decisions, should be to take calculated risks in achieving success and betterment of future prospects.

You should be adventurous and be prepared to take the risk, when you see the opportunity is available. If you are a businessman or an entrepreneur you should be in a position to make up your mind to diverse into some allied activity, which is closely relevant to the present activity you are involved in.

Discipline - You should be extremely disciplined in whatever field you are regularly engaged in. Be always truly conscious and emphatically concerned with regard to the rules and regulations laid down by your company or organisation. Always be remarkably and constantly obedient to your superiors.

Dedication - You should always be selflessly dedicated to your job or vocation. You should be immensely devoted towards your job and be extremely conscious of the fact, that it is your job which brings in your monthly remuneration, to up-keep yourself or may be your entire family. Always think of 'what you can do for your organisation and not what the organisation could do for you.'

It is said that the Japan became such an advanced nation, mainly due to the dedication of their people, towards the profession or vocation they were involved in and because of the unlimited love and affection they have for their country.

If you are a person conducting a business of your own or even a self employed person, being 100 per cent dedicated to your job or vocation will bring you the desired results or the goals and objectives you desire to achieve.