Being punctilious in paying people their dues

Being punctilious in paying people their dues

1992 7 July 5 Being punctilious in paying people their dues (21) Abdullah ibn Umar records the Prophet as Saying: “Pay a labourer his wages before his sweat has dried.”

(Ibn Majah, Sunan)

Success, Failure

1992 7 July 5 Success, Failure (257) The secret of America’s success lies in one simple word research. Research is carried out on every subject. For instance, some people have carried out research on the subject of success and failure and its causes, and have shown how failure can be converted into success. Here are four of the books which have appeared on this subject:

- When Smart People Fail, by Carole Hyatt:

- When Bad Things Happen to Good People, Rabbi Harold Kushner;

- Peak Performers: The New Heroes of American Business, by Charles Garfield;

- Swim with the Sharks without Being Eaten Alive, by Harvey Mackay.

Much valuable matter has been collected in these books, but here, we are taking up only two of the points. One is that it is almost impossible to secure a failure-proof life for ever. In this world man has to face up to the inevitability of failure. What he must do is learn a lesson from his failure. The secret of success to most successful men, according to the above books, is that ‘they learnt not to take failure as the last word’.

Another point worthy of note is that success, too, poses a problem, like failure. Continuous success brings about arrogance in man, which in itself becomes a cause of failure. One successful businessman, Glen Early said, ‘I can’t afford to get arrogant about success, so I’m always trying to improve my business.

Success and failure have nothing mysterious about them. Both happenings have known causes. Learn the causes and stop bearing grudges against others.