Thursday, March 28, 2024

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葡萄樹傳媒

對成功的觀點

By Robert J. Tamasy

若有人問你成功的定義,你的答案會是什麼?對工商專業人士而言,努力邁向成功是大家都在做的事。但「成功」對我們每一個人而言,常常有非常不同的看法。以下是一些過去曾被高度讚揚之領袖所談論的成功。看看你喜歡哪一個:

「成功不是終點,失敗不會致命:重要的是有勇氣繼續」- 邱吉爾。對這位曾擔任英國首相的人而言,堅忍是邁向成功的秘訣。

「無論真理會帶領我們到哪裡,我們都不懼怕跟隨。」- 湯瑪斯.傑弗遜。對這位美國總統而言,追求真理對達到成功是至關重要的。

「幽默感是領導藝術的一部份,讓我們能與人有好的相處,然後才能把事情做好。」- 艾森豪。這位二次大戰的軍事將領和美國總統認為培養好的人際關係對追求成功是很重要的。

「活在沒有充分發揮能力的舒適生活中,人就沒有熱情。」- 曼德拉。對這位傳奇的南非領袖而言,專注於崇高的目標就是達到成功。

「光榮在於邁向目標的努力過程,而非達成目標之時。」- 甘地。對這位有名的印度領袖而言,追求崇高目標所用的最大努力對尋求成功是非常重要的。

「沒有一個事物是值得去擁有的,除非那是經過努力才得到。」- 博科‧華盛頓(Booker T. Washington)。根據這位教育學家、作家和總統的顧問所說,若不努力就不能獲得成功。

「成功不是通向快樂的鑰匙,快樂卻是通向成功的鑰匙。若你熱愛你所做的事,你就會成功。」- 史懷哲。在這位神學家、哲學家和醫生的眼中,除非你享受努力邁向你所要達成之目標的過程,否則成功是不可能的。

聖經不常用到「成功」這個詞,但上帝對成功的觀點很清楚:「這律法書不可離開你的口,總要晝夜思想,好使你謹守遵行這書上所寫的一切話。如此,你的道路就可以亨通,凡事順利。」(約書亞記1章8節)。聖經說,真正的成功是承認上帝是創造者和我們的主,並努力遵循祂所訂立的正確生活方針和標準--包括職場。

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對耶穌基督的跟隨者而言,衡量工商專業人士是否成功在於他是否在職場中榮耀主。因此世界各地許多人將於2014年9月24-28日聚集在美國佛羅里達州的奧蘭多世界中心萬豪飯店(Orlando World Center Marriott)參加CBMC世界大會。

來自亞洲、非洲、歐洲、澳洲、北美、中美和南美洲的工商專業領袖們將聚在一起互相挑戰、鼓勵並學習,使大家能主動參與去實現耶穌的大使命:「你們要去,使萬民作我的門徒…凡我所吩咐你們的,都教訓他們遵守」(馬太福音28章19-20節)。要瞭解更多詳情並報名,請上國際CBMC網站www.cbmcint.org。

省思 / 討論題目

你如何定義成功? 為什麼「成功」意味著這麼多事情,不同的人對成功也有非常不一樣的看法,包括本篇「週一嗎哪」所引述的那些傑出的國內外領袖? 本文所引述對成功與成就的看法中,你特別認同哪一句?請解釋。 關於聖經對成功的觀點,你有何看法?是否應該有一個屬靈層面去定義成功並追求成功?為什麼?若你想看或討論聖經對此主題的其他部份,請看以下經文:箴言16章3節,21章2、5節,28章14節;以弗所書2章10節,19章22節:歌羅西書3章17、23節;提摩太後書3章16-17節


PERSPECTIVES ON SUCCESS
By Robert J. Tamasy

If someone were to ask for your definition of success, what would be your answer? For business and professional people, striving for success is almost universal. But what “success” means for each of us often is very different. Here is a sampling of what some highly acclaimed leaders from the past have said about success. See which ones you like:

"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts" – Winston Churchill. For the one-time British prime minister, perseverance was a key ingredient for success.

"For here we are not afraid to follow truth wherever it may lead" – Thomas Jefferson. For the American president, the pursuit of truth was important for the achievement of success.

"A sense of humor is part of the art of leadership, of getting along with people, of getting things done" – Dwight Eisenhower. This World War II military leader and U.S. president considered the fostering of strong relationship important for the pursuit of success.

"There is no passion to be found playing small – in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living" – Nelson Mandela. For this legendary South African leader, aiming for lofty goals was central to achieving success.

"Glory lies in the attempt to reach one’s goal and not in reaching it" – Mahatma Gandhi. For this renowned Indian leader, the supreme effort exerted in the pursuit of noble goals was essential to the quest for success.

"Nothing ever comes to one, that is worth having, except as a result of hard work” – Booker T. Washington. Success cannot be attained without hard work, according to this educator, author and advisor to presidents.

"Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful" – Albert Schweitzer. Success, in the eyes of this theologian, philosopher and physician, is impossible unless one enjoys the process of striving toward the desired objective.

The Bible does not use the word success often, but it is clear about God”s view of success: “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful” (Joshua 1:8). True success, it says, involves acknowledging God as Creator and Lord, and seeking to follow the guidelines and standards He has established for right living – including the workplace.

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For followers of Jesus Christ, one measure of success for business and professional people is effectively representing Him in the workplace. For that reason, hundreds of men and women from around the world will gather at the Orlando World Center Marriott in Orlando, Florida, U.S.A. Sept. 24-28, 2014 for the World CBMC Convention.

Business and professional leaders from Asia, Africa, Europe, Australia, North America, Central America and South America will be joining to challenge, offer mutual encouragement and learn from one another in their desire to take an active part in fulfilling Jesus” Great Commission to “go and make disciples of all nations…teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20). For more information and to register, visit the CBMC International website, www.cbmcint.org.

Reflection/Discussion Questions
How would you define success? Why do you think “success” means so many things and can look very differently to various people, including prominent national and international leaders, such as those cited in this “Monday Manna”? Are there any of the quotes about success and achievement that you identify with in particular? Explain your answer. What do you think about the Bible”s perspective on success? Should there be a spiritual dimension to how a person defines success and pursues it? Why or why not?If you would like to look at or discuss other portions of the Bible that relate to this topic, consider the following brief sampling of passages: Proverbs 16:3, 21:2,5, 28:14; Ephesians 2:10,19-22; Colossians 3:17,23; 2 Timothy 3:16-17

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