“There is no shortcut to life. To the end of our days, life is a lesson imperfectly learned!”

Many people are tempted by quick-win, quick-gain, and quick fix solution.  But real life experience is not like shortcut keys of computer keyboard that can fulfill one’s desires and dreams by a magic touch.  There is no shortcut to getting ahead in life, but a long road to the future, which is, in essence, requires investment in time, money and energy in preparing for what will pay off in the long run.

There is not shortcut to making big life decisions.  Shortcut are, however, relevant in scientific applications, mathematics, computer manipulation, geographical routes, transport system and production techniques, but not in the realm of human dealings based on ethics, values and principles.

In real life drama, shortcut is associated with tricks and fraudulent means of achieving fame, fortune and success, and most often at the expense of others.  People with shortcut mentality embrace the dark side of life even having recourse to black magic, weird tricks, cheating, black-money, gambling, doping unfair business practices, illicit activities in trying to achieve their goals.  Many young people, who are at the pursuit of instant fame and overnight success, refuse to roll up their sleeves and get “dirty”, and they think that money, fame and success are going to just show up one day at their doorstep.  They waste their time and energy in looking for shortcuts, political backing, tuyeau le course and weird tricks in order to get quick-wins.

They can go to the extent committing academic fraud, take credit for academic papers written by others and even sell their souls to the devils in pursuit of the greedy objectives.  Anyone motivated by pure greed and shortcut mentality is simply looking to get what he/she can in the shortest period of time by whatever means with little or no concern for other’s wellbeing.

Success is a result of hard work, patience and perseverance and it takes time to accomplish the necessary steps needed to complete the process.  One should not miss the steps while moving up the ladder quickly.  Great achievers are those who possess great levels of determination and never give up, even in the face of adversities.  There is no shortcut to success… constant efforts and perseverance, coupled with solid determination, are the real formula to catapult any person to success or fame. 

Shortcut to success is indeed a road to failure.  Success is more permanent when it is anchored on principles and values.  The golden advice is “never take a shortcut in life, take the right path even though it is a long route”.  This allows picking up more experience on the way and learning from the mistakes of others.

Article courtesy of Assad Bhuglah.