Success is simple. Do what's right, the right way, at the right

Arnold H. Glasow, the humorist and sage of practical wisdom, once declared: “Success is simple. Do what’s right, the right way, at the right time.” Though his words appear plain, they are in truth a distillation of life’s most enduring secret. He strips away the layers of schemes and pretenses, the endless books and strategies, and reminds us that true achievement lies not in complication, but in clarity. Success is simple—yet the simplicity demands strength of character, discipline of action, and wisdom of judgment.

To do what’s right is the first and greatest pillar. It calls upon integrity, that virtue which binds a man or woman to the higher law of conscience. Many stumble at this step, for they choose what is easy instead of what is right, or what is expedient instead of what is just. Yet history shows us that no success built on dishonor can endure. Right action is the foundation stone; without it, all victories crumble into dust.

The second pillar is to do it the right way. For even noble intentions can falter when carried out with haste, negligence, or arrogance. To act rightly is not merely to choose good, but to pursue it with skill, care, and dedication. This requires patience and humility, the willingness to learn the craft, to prepare the soil before sowing the seed. The farmer who plants at random reaps little, but the farmer who tills with wisdom, waters with diligence, and tends with care, reaps a harvest that sustains generations.

The third pillar is the wisdom of the right time. For life is a dance of seasons, and timing is the secret rhythm by which success is won. To act too soon is to sow in frozen ground; to act too late is to reap only withered fruit. The wise know when to wait, when to labor, and when to strike. This truth has guided generals on the battlefield, merchants in the market, and poets in the writing of their songs. The same seed, planted at the wrong hour, fails; planted at the right moment, it flourishes.

History resounds with examples of this law. George Washington did not rush blindly into every battle. He often chose to retreat, to bide his time, to strike when the moment was ripe. His victory at Trenton, crossing the Delaware on Christmas night, was not simply courage—it was timing, seizing the hour when his enemy was unprepared. He did what was right, in the right way, at the right time—and in so doing, secured the hope of a new nation.

Likewise, in the realm of invention, Alexander Graham Bell achieved success not because he alone sought to create the telephone, but because he united integrity of purpose, precision in execution, and timeliness in securing the patent. Many had the idea; some even had the skill. But it was Bell who aligned all three pillars, and thus his name lives in history. His story proves Glasow’s maxim: success belongs to the one who weds right action, right method, and right moment.

The lesson is clear: do not overcomplicate the path to success. Many chase shortcuts, illusions, and schemes. They forget that greatness comes from simple but profound virtues: integrity, diligence, and wisdom. These do not require brilliance beyond all others, nor wealth beyond measure. They require only a steadfast heart and a disciplined mind.

So, O children of tomorrow, take these words as your guide. When you face a choice, ask: is it right? When you labor, ask: am I doing it with care? When you act, ask: is this the season, the moment, the hour? If all three answers are yes, walk forward boldly, for success will not be able to resist you.

Thus remember always: success is simple—but only for those with courage to live simply by the highest law. Do what’s right, the right way, at the right time, and you will find that success, though shy to many, walks steadily at your side.