An Impersonal Aim, Beyond All Aims

This post is also available in: Hindi Marathi

We all set different goals in life. And when we align these goals with our interests and abilities, we not only achieve these goals but also enjoy the process and efforts taken to fulfill them. But a powerful aim, that is beyond all the goals in our life, can help us achieve all our goals. Let us understand this with the help of some examples.

There was a village on the banks of a big river. All the villagers who had to cross the river used little bamboo boats to reach the other side of the river; this took a lot of effort. The villagers had to start their day early to complete all their work and then return home before sunset. The old or weak people, who couldn’t row the boats, had to stay back and avoid work that required crossing the river.

Once, a young engineer visited the village. He mulled over the problem and used his engineering skills to build a small engine that could be fitted into the boat. This helped in reducing the travel time and effort for the villagers. Even the old and the weak, who couldn’t row their boats earlier, could now travel to the other side of the river and earn a living for themselves. Thus, the problem was solved with the power of the engine.

This is what a powerful aim can do. It helps us achieve a greater aim, beyond all smaller aims. With the presence of a powerful aim that is beyond all aims, our energy and enthusiasm gets a boost, just as the boats received a boost.

Those, who are obese, are advised to fast from time to time to reduce their weight for a healthy living. They try it, but fail to follow such regimens consistently. Hence, we find that fasting is an integral part of festivals in most religions. People observe fasting during festivals, either due to their faith and devotion or out of fear of displeasing deities. Here, the aim beyond aim is to foster devotion while also attaining good health. This is how an aim beyond aim boosts one’s enthusiasm. It provides energy to a weak desire and makes you work towards your goal.

When this aim is associated with an impersonal vision, it becomes even more potent and powerful. An impersonal aim goes beyond personal needs and benefits the society at large. A small change in our perspective towards our aim can make it impersonal.

For example, a boy wants to become a celebrity chef, as he likes to cook. Now, by changing his perspective, he converts his personal aim into an impersonal one. He does this by thinking, “The food that I cook will help raise the health of those who enjoy it. They will feel happy, healthy, and fulfilled. At the same time, I will become the door for new entrants in this field by guiding them.” In this way, his aim becomes impersonal and benefits many people in his field of activity.

Here’s another example of a company to understand how making our aim impersonal can benefit ourselves as well as society.

The CEO of an automobile company has the vision of delivering the best car. The company has different departments like design, production, testing, marketing, etc. Every department focuses on its progress and strives to give its best output. The car too is launched with the best marketing strategies. Although It becomes a hit initially, it later becomes yet another car in that segment.

Now a new CEO, who believes in having an impersonal vision, is appointed. He calls for a meeting of all department heads and shares his vision with them. “Our new car will be designed using indigenous methods. These methods will help our country move towards self-sufficiency in the automobile industry. The use of these methods will reduce manufacturing costs and make it affordable for all. We will set an example by manufacturing the most efficient car at the least cost. In the future, the world will follow us and do our country proud. In this way, we will become a role model, not only within our country but also in other countries. In this process, we all are no more employees, but soldiers of the nation. So let’s gear up and work towards presenting this new car to the nation.”

The new CEO’s vision has a great positive impact on all the employees. There is great energy and enthusiasm. Every department looks within and comes up with strategies for contributing towards this impersonal vision. They not only do their job well, but also help other departments do well. Eventually, the car became a role model for the country and also the industry at large. Owning a car becomes an affordable reality for many people who have dreamt of it.

This example shows how an impersonal aim can bring incredible results by making even the smallest worker in this chain feel accountable for the entire project’s success. His point of view may be different, but he sees his success in the company’s impersonal aim. He feels proud to be a part of this group and a personal sense of fulfillment in achieving this impersonal aim.

Nobody can stop the success of companies and individuals who have such an impersonal aim beyond aim.