Melvin's blog

Nshima & Curry

Melvin's  Blog

Nshima & Curry

SUCCESS CAN BE DEFINED IN MANY WAYS

The newspaper I previously worked for employs a very
friendly receptionist. All receptionists are supposed to be
friendly, but Connie Abbott has such a positive tone, she
could brighten your day by saying, "Did anyone ever tell
you that you look like a movie star? You ought to go to
Hollywood and audition for the title role in a new movie:
'The Return of King Kong.'"

"A movie star?" you'd say. "Thank you so much. That's
the best compliment I've received since my music teacher
told me I sing as well as Milli Vanilli."

I appreciated Connie's friendliness, because I've
encountered a few unfriendly receptionists, including one
at the Indian embassy in Washington D.C. who could
make both King Kong and Godzilla scamper away in fear.
During a stop at the embassy several years ago, I
watched her harass visitor after visitor and thought to
myself, "One billion people to choose from and they
couldn't hire anyone friendlier. This woman could
single-handedly ruin India's tourist industry. If the Indian
government were smarter, they'd appoint her to a new
position: Director of Prisons. The crime rate would drop
so fast, many politicians would lose money."

In contrast, Connie is so pleasant that some people are
willing to call the newspaper every day just to greet her
and say, "When's my wedding picture going to appear in
the paper? Hopefully before the divorce."

Whatever they say, Connie remains friendly and polite.
She's an excellent receptionist and a true success. Yes, a
success.

For some reason, we seem to reserve the term "success"
for people with money, fame or power. But who gave
them such a monopoly? Alan Greenspan? You don't have
to be an actor or entrepreneur or software whiz to be a
success. Receptionists, farmers, teachers, janitors,
homemakers, plumbers can be just as successful, even if
they've never made a single appearance on Oprah.

In fact, if Oprah Winfrey invited me on her television
show, I'd tell her all about it.

Oprah: "It's my pleasure today to welcome the
world-renowned expert on success, Melvin Durai, author
of the new self-help book 'I'm Successful, You're
Successful.' He says he can spot a successful person a
mile away."

Me: "Yes, Oprah. My clients pay me thousands of dollars
to tell them they're successful. Many of them have no clue.
Just the other day, I told Julia Roberts that she's a
success. She was so excited, she gave me her Oscar."

Oprah: "Well, let's talk about other celebrities. What
about Howard Stern, the radio shock jock who has
offended many people with his ethnic and religious jokes?
Is he a success?"

Me: "Yes, of course he's a success."

Oprah: "What do you mean? Don't you think he's an idiot?"

Me: "Yes, but he's a successful idiot."

Oprah: "Please explain that to our audience. I can see a
few confused faces."

Me: "Well, can you think of a better idiot than Howard
Stern? He's the best idiot on the radio. He plays the role
of idiot well. That makes him a success as an idiot. In fact,
if we had an Idiot Hall of Fame, he'd be voted in
unanimously."

Oprah: "What about ordinary people who don't appear
on television every day at 4 p.m. like me? Can they be
successful?"

Me: "Yes, of course, Oprah. It doesn't matter what you
do - if you do it well, you can consider yourself a
success. Just because you don't have money, fame or
power, don't let anyone tell you you're not a success."

Oprah: "Wow! I never thought of it like that. Would you
like to be a regular guest on my show?"

Me: "Really? Oh my gosh. Now my mother may actually
believe I'm a success."

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