Honesty and Passion, Essay Example

Gandhi is one of our world’s most inspirational individuals. He aimed for perfection, beauty, guidance, respect for all, and gave us all certain standards to live by. Our relationships with ourselves and others are of utmost importance and our personal values can lead us to commercial success as long as those values are on target with the people we encounter. Success is a work in progress and it takes many different people, values, and scenarios to finally reach what many call the ultimate success. Respect, honesty, and passion are what every successful individual needs in life, especially those wanting commercial success.

First, these days, many of us demand respect. However, the truth of the matter is that we must respect others in order to earn respect from them. There are too many people in the world who do not understand this concept. Respect is of extreme importance when working with clients, customers, employees, other co-workers and the general public. If these individuals feel as if they are respected as individuals and/or professionals, they are more likely to gain a positive relationship with you. What many do not understand is that one must respect himself or herself before he or she can respect anyone else. This personal value is hard for some people due to the fact that they were never taught self-respect. Therefore, this could easily hinder the person’s commercial success if this is what he or she is trying to obtain. Respect is earned and if a professional can grasp this concept, he or she could be very successful.

Secondly, when thinking of personal values, many think of the “golden rule;” this not only goes for respect, but also honesty. Many of us are taught the golden rule at a very young age: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” This is something that many of us base our personal values on and honesty is very important in all relationships and especially any kind of success. Much success is built on honesty. Many business men and women not only have to be honest with their customers about their business and products, but they also have to be honest with their employees and other co-workers as well. This is the only way each and every person can stay on the same page and all be successful in their endeavors. If one can be honest about all business practices, this shows integrity and makes it even easier to obtain commercial success.

Finally, respect and honesty are two very important personal values, but probably most important is passion. Passion is the true key to success. Without passion, there is no point in even trying to obtain commercial success. Passion is what drives a person to be respectful, to be honest, and to obtain success in any realm of his or her life. It ignites a fire within a person to do bigger and better and to do it ethically. Eventually, customers and employees will see the passion, the desire and will want to be a part of something that means so much. With many working on the same goals and working together for the greater good, commercial success is much more attainable.

Starbucks Coffee Company is one of the best examples of the ways in which I think about these personal values and success. Starbucks is a place in which respect, honesty and passion are integral parts of the owner’s and company’s values. The owner, Howard Schultz, prides himself on honesty, respect, teamwork, passion and support. Starbucks employees are trained by the company to go the extra mile at all time, to make the customers feel respected and appreciated, and many have a passion for coffee and all that the company stands for. Howard Schultz has been successful because he knows the importance of respect, trust, honesty, teamwork, but most of all, passion (Phillips).

In conclusion, it is important to always have specific personal values that are going to help in the success of a person. Some are more important than others, but nevertheless, they all mean something to someone and they can all get people ahead in life. It takes respect, honesty, and passion to get anywhere in life. These personal values will help a person succeed in all that they do. However, it is very true that the person has to also work with others who possess the same values and the same ideas in order for the company to be a success as a whole. Success in built upon many different factors and people define success differently; however, successful people have very similar traits, values, morals, and guidelines and work hard to get where they are in life. It is important to look at the people a successful man or woman surrounds himself or herself with as these all play an integral role in their success. They are respected by each other and are able to be honest. Passion, however, is the drive, the motivation, the key to success.

Works Cited

Phillips, Amber. Personal Interview. 16 Sept. 2012.