In the 10th year of his MBA class reunion, the late Clayton Christenssen noticed something strange: many of his classmates did not come back.

Christenssen called them and other classmates and found answers. Many of them were executives in companies like Goldman Sachs and McKinsey, and others were working their way up the corporate ladder at various Fortune 500 companies.

By all outward measures, they were successful. But most of them were dissatisfied. Many were divorced or estranged from their children. One of them was arrested for his part in the Enron scandal.

When they graduated from grad school, none of them would have deliberately mapped a strategy to get divorced or lose touch with their children, let alone ending up in jail. Yet, this is precisely what they did.

Christenssen, a successful business school professor and the author of the acclaimed book The Innovator’s Dilemma reflects on the question of what a good life is in his book How Will You Measure Your Life.

Because a successful life and a good life are not necessarily synonymous.

The map of a good life must necessarily contain virtues.

Honesty

Is honesty really the best policy?

Alan Greenspan, the chairman of the American federal reserve between 1987 to 2006, says yes. “I have found no greater satisfaction than achieving success through honest dealings and strict adherence to the view that for you to gain, those you deal with should gain as well. Human relations — be they personal or professional — should not be zero sum games”, he told the graduates of Harvard in his 1999 commencement address.

Let us put this in perspective. The person in charge of managing the funds of the richest country in the world believes honesty is the way to go. He busts the myth that you can’t win by being honest.

There are many reasons that propel a person to lie. They may be afraid of the consequences of telling the truth. They may gain something by lying. But a lie comes with a price. A bigger price than they can fathom.

When we look at the lives of saints, Truthfulness was non-negotiable in their lives.

Whichever way you spin the wheel — Truthfulness is the key — for material success (when stakeholders trust you) — for spiritual progress — for satisfaction.

Contentment

My Dad and I were traveling in a train.

A person came to us, begging for some money. My Dad gave them two ten-rupee notes. The person put one note in their pocket, and returned the other note to my Dad. This was shocking and beautiful at the same time. I’ve had several encounter where people begging who were not happy with the money I gave them and wanted more. Watching this scene in reverse went against human nature and pleasantly surprised me.

The word ‘enough’ is powerful.

And Nature, paradoxically gives in abundance to those who don’t want more.

Humility

Hanuman’s humility never ceases to amaze me.

Each day, I am in awe — how someone with the prowess and might of Hanuman is the paragon of humility.

Vidya Dadati Vinayam - Education gives humility — Sanskrit Subhashita

Education should give us humility according to ancient wisdom. The opposite is true today.

Every human makes mistakes. Humility keeps us in check — and helps us to remain a learner throughout one’s life. Even the most skilled person has something to learn each day.

One Virtue Begets Another

A good strategy to build virtues is to start small.

Starting with one virtue is best. Focus on building that virtue — double down on this virtue in our daily life.

Once this virtue becomes routine, a part of us, other virtues will follow suit.

Hanuman’s Life is a Masterclass on Living a Virtuous Life

Hanuman saw His mother Anjana after Rama defeated Ravana in Lanka.

Hanuman recounted the entire set of events to Anjana. Anjana was cross with Hanuman — why did Hanuman not defeat Ravana Himself? Why did He have to bother Rama for something as small as this? Where did Hanuman’s courage go?

Hanuman smiled with amusement. He explained to Anjana that fighting Ravana Himself would not have been an act of courage — it would have been overstepping boundaries. Rama had to do this to protect His honor, and this was Sita’s wish as well. Anjana was mollified with this explanation.

Indeed, Hanuman possessed not just courage, but every virtue.

Studying Hanuman’s life gives copious lessons on how to build virtues. This is a worthwhile study — for, a virtuous life is a good life.