The Secret of Success

3. Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata (J. R. D. Tata) was a man of extraordinary generosity. In 1930, the Aga Khan announced a prize for the person who could fly an aircraft between England and India in the shortest time. J. R. D. Tata flew his plane from Karachi, while another competitor flew from London. Both landed in Cairo for refueling. At that time, Tata learned that his rival needed a spare part and would have to wait at Cairo airport until it arrived from England. This was a golden opportunity for Tata to win easily. But, with generosity, he gave the spare part from his own plane to his rival. As a result, his rival won the competition. Yet Tata never expressed any regret. 4. J. R. D. Tata was extremely respectful of human dignity. Despite his authority, he never imposed his opinion on others. Instead, he always used persuasion. On one occasion, a director in his company put up a notice on an elevator stating that it could only be used by directors. When Tata heard about it, he quickly went to the spot and personally tore down the notice with his own hands (Hindustan Times, 3 February 1992). The secret of success in this world can be summed up in one word: principle. A person who lives according to principles succeeds, while one who abandons them fails. What is principle? Principle means living in accordance with reality. If reality demands perseverance, success cannot