The Meaning of Success

The Meaning of Success

Every parent wants his children to be successful.
Every citizen wants his state or country to be prosperous.
Every teacher wants his students to become successful.
There is industry around the success,
Leaders from this industry teach newcomers to become successful.
Authors are writing books to make people successful.
People read these books to become successful.
Many of them don’t want to take any pain to become successful.
And others want to walk any length to become successful.

Inspiring success in children’s mind or adolescent mind is easy
Because they want to enjoy the life, have adventure in the life
They want to have lots of money to buy anything on this planet.
Because that is the meaning of success for them.
But when matured people define the success this way
Then it is sign of immaturity,
It means you have not grown enough
or seen enough from a crushing process called life.

No matter how much wealth, fame, money, status, happiness,
pleasure, buying power you attach to yourself, you will never feel enough.
You will not find a single person of past and present
who fit your definition of success.

This idea will takes you into further ignorance,
That I am unique, nobody in past happened like me,
I will live my life in unique way
All this is fine, till you start feeling
You will do that and achieve that in your life which nobody did in the past.

You want to work hard, or sleep on a stone in some forest. That is your choice.
You want to make lots of money, or give away all your wealth. That is your choice.
You want to have a healthy body, or have enough money
to buy any kind of health treatment. That is your choice.

But you want to become successful
without knowing what is the meaning of success
Or keep changing that definition of success
on the dawn of every new year’s goal setting.
That is the path of anything but success.

For refreshing your memory I am giving list of a few people and organizations
Some of these are no more, some still exist around us.
Read it and ask yourself what is the meaning of success in life?
Until we die, anything can happen to living life or living organization.

For a few minutes look below a small list and think, Who created these multi billion dollar global organizations?
How long they were successful? How many years they remain in the business?
And how long owners and employee experienced the success?

Organizations

1. AIG FINANCIAL PRODUCTS CORP., United States, Liabilities :$37.70 billion
2. Aircel :Telecommunications company in India, highest employee count around 8,000, faced financial difficulties and bankruptcy, leading to closure.
3. ALTERA INFRASTRUCTURE, United Kingdom, Liabilities :$3.71 billion
4. AMERICANAS S.A., Brazil, Liabilities :$6.37 billion
5. AskMe.com :Online platform for local businesses in India, closed due to financial mismanagement and internal disputes.
6. Atari :Pioneering video game company, saw a decline due to market changes and shifting industry trends.
7. AVAYA INC., United States, Liabilities :$5.13 billion
8. Barneys New York :Luxury department store chain, highest employee count around 2,300, faced bankruptcy due to high rent and changing retail landscape.
9. Better Place :Electric vehicle infrastructure company, struggled due to high costs and limited infrastructure adoption, leading to closure.
10. Bharati Shipyard :Shipbuilding company in India, faced financial troubles due to debt and operational challenges.
11. BigBasket (DailyNinja) :Online grocery delivery service in India, merged with Tata Group due to competition and sustainability concerns.
12. BlackBerry (Research in Motion) :Known for pioneering smartphones, faced intense competition and failure to innovate, leading to decline.
13. Blockbuster Video (Australia) :Part of the global Blockbuster chain, faced similar challenges and closed due to declining demand for physical rentals.
14. Blockbuster :Video rental chain, faced competition from online streaming services, leading to bankruptcy.
15. Bluegape :E-commerce platform, struggled due to operational inefficiencies and market competition, leading to closure.
16. Borders Group :Bookstore chain, faced bankruptcy due to competition from e-commerce and digital books.
17. CarWale :Automotive classifieds website, acquired by CarTrade due to industry consolidation.
18. CELSIUS NETWORK, United States, Liabilities :$5.5 billion
19. China Evergrande, China, $200 billion in unpaid bills
20. CINEWORLD GROUP, United Kingdom, Liabilities :$10.38 billion
21. Circuit City :Electronics retailer, faced bankruptcy due to financial issues and increased competition.
22. Compaq :Computer manufacturer, acquired by HP due to competitive pressures and industry changes.
23. Dabur Pharma :Pharmaceutical company in India, faced challenges in scaling up operations and was eventually sold to another pharma company.
24. Deccan Chronicle Holdings :Media company in India, faced financial troubles due to debt and mismanagement.
25. EduKart :Online education platform, closed due to funding constraints and tough competition in the sector.
26. ENDO INTERNATIONAL, Ireland, Liabilities :$9.53 billion
27. Enron :Energy company involved in a major financial scandal and collapsed due to accounting fraud.
28. Eros International :Film production and distribution company, faced financial troubles due to debt and market challenges.
29. Essar Steel :Steel manufacturing company in India, faced insolvency proceedings and underwent restructuring.
30. eYantra :Tech startup, faced challenges in scaling up and market penetration, leading to closure.
31. FabFurnish :Online furniture retailer, closed due to operational challenges and funding issues.
32. Flash Networks :Telecommunications software company, faced market challenges and was acquired by another firm.
33. Foodpanda India :Online food delivery platform, acquired by Ola due to intense competition in the market.
34. Friendster :Social networking platform, faced fierce competition from Facebook and closed down.
35. FTX TRADING LTD., United States, Liabilities :$10.00 billion
36. GARUDA INDONESIA, Indonesia, Liabilities :$13.38 billion
37. GoZoomo :Used car marketplace in India, shut down due to operational challenges and market competition.
38. GTL Infrastructure :Telecom infrastructure company, faced financial difficulties due to debt and operational issues.
39. HealthKart :Health and wellness e-commerce platform, still operational, providing health-related products and services in India.
40. Hike Messenger :Messaging app in India, reached a high user base, but faced stiff competition from WhatsApp and other platforms, leading to its closure.
41. Hindustan Motors :An Indian automotive manufacturer, produced the iconic Ambassador car, faced declining sales and shut down manufacturing operations.
42. HippoCabs :An Indian cab aggregator, faced challenges in competing with larger players like Ola and Uber, leading to closure.
43. HMV :Music retailer and record label, faced competition from digital downloads and streaming, leading to bankruptcy.
44. iYogi :Tech support company, faced legal issues and customer complaints, eventually ceased operations.
45. J.C. Penney :Department store chain, faced financial struggles due to changing consumer habits and increased competition, filed for bankruptcy.
46. Jawbone :Consumer electronics company, known for fitness trackers, faced stiff competition and production issues, leading to closure.
47. Jaypee Group :Diversified conglomerate in India, faced financial difficulties due to debt and economic challenges in various sectors.
48. Jet Airways :Indian airline, faced financial mismanagement and debt, resulting in suspension of operations.
49. Johnson Publishing Company :Media company, publisher of Ebony and Jet magazines, faced declining print media sales and filed for bankruptcy.
50. Kingfisher Airlines :Indian airline, faced financial issues and operational challenges, leading to shutdown.
51. Deccan Airways : Closed because of dozens of reasons and finally couldn’t survive.
52. Kodak :Photography company, faced challenges in transitioning from film to digital, declared bankruptcy but continues with a focus on commercial imaging.
53. LeEco :Technology conglomerate in China, expanded rapidly into various sectors but faced financial troubles and scaled back operations.
54. Lehman Brothers :Investment bank, collapsed during the 2008 financial crisis due to subprime mortgage exposure.
55. LocalBanya :Online grocery platform in India, faced operational and funding issues, leading to closure.
56. Loop Mobile :Telecom operator in India, faced tough competition and regulatory issues, eventually shutting down its services.
57. Mega Cabs :Cab service in India, faced challenges in competing with larger players and market saturation, leading to reduced operations.
58. Meru Cabs :Cab service in India, faced competition from aggregators like Ola and Uber, leading to reduced market presence.
59. MIE HOLDINGS CORPORATION, China, Liabilities :$5.77 billion
60. MODERN LAND LTD., China, Liabilities :$10.65 billion
61. Movie Gallery :Video rental company, faced competition from online streaming and filed for bankruptcy.
62. MoviePass :Subscription-based movie ticket service, faced financial issues and operational challenges, leading to closure.
63. Mu Sigma :Analytics company, faced challenges in scaling operations and financial issues, leading to restructuring.
64. Mumbai Angels :Angel investor network in India, still operational, supporting startups and entrepreneurs.
65. MySpace :Social networking platform, faced fierce competition from Facebook and declining user engagement, leading to a decline in popularity.
66. OI S.A., Brazil, Liabilities :$9.82 billion
67. Pan Am :Iconic American airline, faced financial troubles and increased competition, leading to bankruptcy and closure.
68. PepperTap :Online grocery delivery platform in India, faced operational challenges and shut down its operations.
69. Pets.com :Online pet supply retailer, faced challenges in its business model and shut down during the dot-com bubble burst.
70. PledgeMusic :Crowdfunding platform for musicians, faced financial mismanagement and filed for bankruptcy, leaving many artists unpaid.
71. PMC Bank :Indian cooperative bank, faced a major financial scandal due to mismanagement and irregularities, leading to restrictions on withdrawals and regulatory actions.
72. Polaroid :Known for instant cameras, faced decline due to the digital revolution, eventually ceased camera production.
73. Quibi :Short-form streaming service, struggled to gain subscribers and faced content-related challenges, leading to closure.
74. RadioShack :Electronics retailer, faced declining sales and filed for bankruptcy multiple times due to increased competition and changing consumer habits.
75. Reliance Communications :Indian telecom company, faced debt and intense competition, leading to bankruptcy proceedings.
76. Reva Electric Car Company :Indian electric car manufacturer, faced challenges in scaling and market penetration, eventually acquired by Mahindra & Mahindra.
77. REVERSE MORTGAGE INVESTMENT TRUST INC., United States, Liabilities :$10.0 billion
78. REVLON, United States, Liabilities :$3.68 billion
79. Ringing Bells (Freedom 251) :Indian company claimed to offer the world’s cheapest smartphone, faced controversies and delivery issues, leading to closure.
80. Rocket Internet :Startup incubator and investor, involved in various startups globally, continues to operate and invest in new ventures.
81. Ruia Group (Essar Steel) :Involved in the steel industry, faced insolvency proceedings and restructuring due to financial challenges.
82. Sahara India Pariwar :Conglomerate in India, faced legal issues and financial controversies, but remains operational in various sectors.
83. Satyam Computer Services :Indian IT company, faced a major accounting scandal, leading to rebranding and acquisition by Tech Mahindra.
84. ScoopWhoop :Digital media company in India, faced controversies and financial challenges but continues to operate.
85. Sears :Department store chain, faced declining sales and filed for bankruptcy due to increased online competition and changing retail landscape.
86. SILICON VALLEY BANK FINANCIAL GROUP, United States, Liabilities :$3.67 billion
87. SpiceJet (2004) :Indian airline, faced financial troubles but managed to recover and continues operations.
88. Stayzilla :Indian online accommodation booking platform, faced funding issues and shut down operations.
89. Subex :Telecom analytics company, faced challenges in a competitive market but continues to operate.
90. Subhiksha :Indian retail chain, faced financial difficulties and shut down stores due to debt and mismanagement.
91. Suzlon Energy :Wind turbine supplier, faced financial difficulties due to debt and market challenges but continues operations.
92. TALEN ENERGY SUPPLY, United States, Liabilities :$10.0 billion
93. TaskRabbit India :Online marketplace for freelance services, acquired by IKEA but continues to operate independently.
94. The Sharper Image :Retailer of electronics and gadgets, faced declining sales and filed for bankruptcy due to changing consumer preferences.
95. Theranos :Health technology company, faced legal issues and shut down due to controversies around its blood testing technology.
96. TinyOwl :Indian food delivery startup, faced funding issues and shut down operations.
97. Toys “R” Us :Toy retailer, faced declining sales and filed for bankruptcy due to increased online competition.
98. Twitter (Vine) :Social media platform, discontinued Vine due to low user engagement and competition from other platforms.
99. Urban Ladder :Online furniture retailer in India, faced funding challenges and was acquired by Reliance Retail.
100. Vebbler :Social networking app in India, faced challenges in scaling up and shut down operations.
101. Videocon :Conglomerate in India, faced financial difficulties and insolvency proceedings due to debt.
102. Vine (the company) :Short-form video platform, owned by Twitter, discontinued due to lack of profitability and competition.
103. Voonik :Indian fashion e-commerce platform, faced funding issues but continues to operate.
104. Webvan :Online grocery delivery service in the US, faced financial challenges and shut down during the dot-com bubble burst.
105. WOW Air :Icelandic airline, faced financial difficulties and ceased operations abruptly.
106. Yebhi :Indian online shopping platform, faced operational challenges and shut down.
107. ZebPay :Indian cryptocurrency exchange, faced regulatory challenges and temporarily halted operations but continues in some markets.
108. Zen Mobile :Indian mobile phone manufacturer, faced tough competition and market challenges, leading to reduced market presence.
109. Zynga :Game development company, faced declining user base and shifted focus to mobile games, continues to develop and publish games

People

These individuals have been, or were, exceptionally intelligent or hardworking or fortunate to have reached the heights they did or born in filthy rich family or mix of these — a recognition that preceded their inclusion in this list. What twists in life led them to this roster? Can we consider these individuals successful now? Passing judgment on life is effortless, especially within the confines of our minds, and without public consequences. Yet, living in the moment confronts us with myriad temptations, catch us by our neck and persisting until our last breath. After perusing this list, discovering their start, their journey, their acquisitions, and eventually their fate, you’ll be compelled to reassess your personal definition of success. I have randomly added these names here, whatever came on top of my mind.

1. Subhash Chadra Bose : As per theories he died in 1985, and only 15 people on his cremation. No one actually know what happened to Neta Ji.
2. Karl Marks : German-born philosopher, economist, political theorist, historian, sociologist, journalist, and revolutionary socialist. Only 13 people were present at his funeral.
3. Srinivasa Ramanujan & Janaki Ammal : Ramanujan died at the age of 32 due to TB and Janaki remain widow whole life, survived on her tailoring work and little penson of her husband.
4. Chanda Kocchar : ICICI Bank CEO
5. Chung Mong-hun : Hyundai Group CEO. Sucide from 12th floor.
6. VG Siddharth : CEO of CCD. Sucide.
7. Raj Kundra: He is a British-Indian businessman who was arrested in 2021 for his alleged involvement in a pornography racket.
8. Sreesanth: He is a former Indian cricketer who was banned from cricket for life by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for his alleged involvement in spot-fixing during the 2013 Indian Premier League (IPL).
9. Rahul Gandhi: He is an Indian politician who has faced criticism for his leadership skills and political acumen.
10. Arvind Kejriwal: He is an Indian politician who has been involved in several controversies related to his political career, including allegations of corruption and misuse of power.
11. Kapil Sibal: He is an Indian politician and former Union Minister who has been embroiled in several controversies related to corruption and money laundering.
12. Vikram Bhatt: He is an Indian film director who has been involved in several controversies related to plagiarism and copyright infringement.
13. Anurag Kashyap: He is an Indian film director who has been accused of sexual harassment by multiple women.
14. Vijay Mallya: He is a former Indian businessman and politician who was declared a fugitive economic offender by the Indian government in 2019 ⁴.
15. Nirav Modi: He is a former Indian diamond merchant who was accused of defrauding the Punjab National Bank of over $2 billion ⁴.
16. Subrata Roy: He was an Indian businessman and the founder of Sahara India Pariwar, which has been involved in several controversies and legal battles ⁴.
17. Ramalinga Raju: He is a former chairman of Satyam Computer Services, which was involved in one of the biggest corporate accounting scandals in India ⁴.
18. Anil Ambani: He is an Indian businessman who has faced financial troubles in recent years, including bankruptcy proceedings and legal battles ⁴.
19. Shivinder Singh: He is a former Indian businessman and the co-founder of Fortis Healthcare, which has been involved in several controversies and legal battles ⁴.
20. Suresh Kalmadi: He is an Indian politician and former chairman of the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee, who was accused of corruption and financial irregularities related to the 2010 Commonwealth Games held in Delhi ⁴.
21. P. Chidambaram: He is an Indian politician and former finance minister who has been embroiled in several controversies related to corruption and money laundering ⁴.
22. Lalit Modi: He is a former Indian cricket administrator who was banned for life by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for alleged irregularities related to the Indian Premier League (IPL) ⁴.
23. A. Raja: He is an Indian politician who was involved in a major telecom scam that caused losses worth billions of dollars to the Indian exchequer ⁴.
24. Kanimozhi Karunanidhi: She is an Indian politician who was accused of involvement in the 2G spectrum scam, which caused losses worth billions of dollars to the Indian exchequer ⁴.
25. Salman Khan: He is an Indian actor who has been involved in several controversies related to his personal life, including hit-and-run cases and poaching cases ⁴.
26. Sanjay Dutt: He is an Indian actor who has been involved in several controversies related to his personal life, including drug addiction and illegal possession of firearms ⁴.
27. Harshad Mehta: He was an Indian stockbroker who was involved in one of the biggest stock market scams in India during the 1990s ⁴.
28. Ketan Parekh: He is an Indian stockbroker who was involved in several stock market scams during the late 1990s and early 2000s ⁴.
29. Suresh Nanda: He is an Indian businessman who was involved in several controversies related to arms dealing and corruption ⁴.
30. Madhu Koda: He is an Indian politician who was accused of involvement in a major mining scam that caused losses worth billions of dollars to the Indian exchequer ⁴.

More Resources

• https://intellizence.com/insights/bankruptcy/leading-companies-filing-for-bankruptcy/
• https://gfmag.com/data/worlds-biggest-bankruptcies/