The Mathematics of Finding Success
August 25th, 2009 by Michael Kwan
Some people may tell you that there is no single formula for success and what may work for one person may not work for someone else. That may be true, but the fundamental principles that lie beneath that success remain the same. You need to have the right foundation and the right building blocks if you want to ascend to the top.
Let’s say that A=1, B=2, C=3, and so on through to Y=25 and Z=26. If we assume this series to be true, you will find “hard work” can be calculated as thus:
H-A-R-D-W-O-R-K = 8 + 1 + 18 + 4 + 23 + 15 + 18 +11 = 98%
Hard work will get you close to perfect success, but it’s not quite there. A strong work ethic means that you’re willing to put in the hours, you’re willing to sacrifice, and you’re willing to learn. Without hard work, it’s very unlikely that you’ll be able to enjoy any kind of monumental success… but hard work is not enough on its own.
Applying the same mathematical idea to “attitude” yields the following result:
A-T-T-I-T-U-D-E = 1 + 20 + 20 + 9 + 20 + 21 + 4 + 5 = 100%
What makes the biggest difference is how you view the world and how you view your role in it. Is the power to succeed in your hands or is it in the hands of others? Was that really bad news that you received or did that present an opportunity for you to shine? Is life unbearably difficult or does it give you an arena to try? It’s all about your attitude.
Food for thought: Success is an attitude and a habit. Embrace it.
Tags: happiness, personal success, perspective
Filed under Personal Development.
True. And one more important ingredient for success is DISCIPLINE. See what that adds up to.
I can’t believe I’m doing this, but…
D-I-S-C-I-P-L-I-N-E
= 4 + 9 + 19 + 3 + 9 + 16 + 12 + 9 + 14 + 5
= 100
Well done!
this means attitude and discipline is better than anything
I hate to say this, but as a computer geek and math major in college, this has worked out as just total random luck. While it is true that these things are the foundation of success you could do the addition with lazy to get 64. Does that mean that if you are lazy you have a slightly weighted chance of failure, but not an overwhelming one?
If you add in luck, being in the right place at the right time, getting in the or out at the right time or having the right parents you get all the numbers for both success and failure.
Let me add that I see the point you are making. Rationally, the example of random totals by numbers and words is just to flimsy in reality to put my mind around based on my math background.
Then you probably don’t want to get into the numerology of the various words…
Let’s see what LAZINESS adds up to:
12 + 1 + 26 + 9 + 14 + 5 + 19 + 19 = 105
So, laziness is equal to putting in 105%?
If only the path to achieving success is as easy as the summation of some random numbers.
SUCCESS = 19 + 21 + 3 + 3 + 5 + 19 + 19 = 89
Therefore:
HARDWORK > SUCCESS
ATTITUDE > SUCCESS
FAILURE = 6 + 1 + 9 + 12 + 21 + 18 + 5 = 72
SUCCESS > FAILURE
Cool. It works out. Sometimes.
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