Just as a house that is not properly founded cannot see the test of time, a life without its proper foundation also shall not see through the many challenges it must face. Noted by every instance in history, culture, and personal tales, one of the most important things learned from life has to do with building on solid grounds early in life. The earlier years of one’s life are considered crucial stages of laying the vital foundation in personal development, professional growth, and moral integrity.
The Significance of Early Beginnings
That is one of the parables most used to illustrate investment in a good foundation: “Three Little Pigs.” While two of them quickly built houses of straw and sticks, respectively, the third one put extra effort into constructing a house that was sturdy enough to be made of bricks. When adversity came, in the form of the Big Bad Wolf, only the third pig’s house remained standing. A simple story, maybe, but the truth behind its meaning surely mimics the sounds of life: what you invest in early on will determine how you withstand future storms.
An Applicable Indian Insight: The Story of Ekalavya
The story of Ekalavya is from the Mahabharata and leads to a strong lesson in building one’s foundation, even in the face of obstacles. He had a great Archery Guru in Dronacharya, who, in fact, refused to teach him formally, yet his determination for learning made him construct a statue of his guru and practice archery in front of it.
The rigorous discipline of self-teaching and dedication put him soundly, turning him into a master archer. Though his story ended tragically after his guru asked for his thumb as gurudakshina—an offering to the teacher—the lesson of building skill and resilience from a young age outlives him through the generations. Ekalavya’s commitment is a pointer that no matter what is happening outside, our inner resolve for strong foundations will result in mastery. This story appeals poignantly to us in today’s world, which celebrates quick fixes and instant results: work and commitment, especially in the early years of life, prepare the ground for success.
Global Lessons from Leaders
In turn, so many successful people across the world point out how central their early foundations were to them. Probably a good example is Warren Buffett, who some consider to be the most successful investor in the world. Warren Buffett started into life in business and finance on time. He bought his first stock at age 11 and his first business at 13 years old. Buffett attributes much of his success to the strong financial principles he developed early on.
The early life of Buffett was thus a bundle of discipline, deep understanding of one’s art at an early stage of life that helped him emerge in life with long-standing success. As he says, “Someone’s sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago,” it simply states the foremost principle: early investment of time and effort in learning yields great returns later in life.
The Power of Early Habit Formation
But one of the reasons building a strong foundation early in life is so important is due to something called the power of habit formation. As psychologists will simply say, “We are what we repeatedly do.” The habits we build up early in life become foundational to our later behaviour and decisions.
It is reflected in the Indian concept of “Sanskar.” Most Indian parents love to tell their children that they should inculcate good values, as it is understood that these values would remain with them throughout their life. Be it respect for elders, truthfulness, or a quest for knowledge, these basic values are supposed to guide them like a moral beacon in the journey of life.
Great Indian spiritual leader Swami Vivekananda said, “We are what our thoughts have made us; so take care about what you think. Words are secondary. Thoughts live; they travel far.” What he meant was that in the growing years, we should plant the right-type thoughts and ideas in our minds. It is these thoughts and ideas built up in the formative years that go on to determine the character and success of an individual.
Overcoming Obstacles with a Strong Foundation
A good foundation does not mean that your life will not be beset with challenges, but it certainly does help you to face the trials of life head-on. An example is Oprah Winfrey, an international media mogul and philanthropist who speaks often about her depressing childhood. Born into abject poverty, Oprah suffered a number of hardships. She used those early experiences to fuel her drive and determination. She credits her early experiences—being grounded in faith, trying hard, and being educated—for helping her to transcend her circumstances.
Oprah’s story is one of many that epitomize how the foundations that were built in our early years were not about skills or knowledge but about resilience. And often, one can pick up after failure, learn from mistakes, and continue moving right ahead because a foundation was laid in those early years on determination, optimism, and belief in one’s self.
The Role of Education and Mentorship
It plays a very important role in building a strong foundation not only in Indian but international contexts also. Education encompasses more than just academic knowledge; it forms a thought process, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities. Many speeches of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, one of the most loved Presidents of India and one of the greatest scientists, relate to the importance of education. He said, “The purpose of education is to make good human beings with skill and expertise. Enlightened human beings can be created by teachers.”
From a nondescript beginning to the highest office in the land, Kalam’s life epitomizes the power of education to transform. Thus, the early foundation of science and love for learning laid the infrastructure for his brilliant achievements—reminding us that education is perhaps one of the most critical components for any strong foundation.
Conclusion: Invest in Your Foundation Today
Whether it be the story of the “Three Little Pigs,” the story of Ekalavya, or current-day storied rags-to-riches journeys of Warren Buffett and Oprah Winfrey, the message is crystal clear: a strong foundation laid at the beginning sets the mould for success later in life. This involves education, values, habits, resilience, and discipline. Life will always knock you off guard, but those who invested in their core are way better positioned to rise above it. As Swami Vivekananda said, “Take up one idea. Make that one idea your life—think of it, dream of it, live on that idea. Let the brain, muscles, nerves, every part of your body be full of that idea, and just leave every other idea alone. This is the way to success.” That idea begins with the foundation you build today.
Dr. Prahlada N.B
MBBS (JJMMC), MS (PGIMER, Chandigarh).
MBA (BITS, Pilani), MHA,
Executive Programme in Strategic Management (IIM, Lucknow)
Senior Management Programme in Healthcare Management (IIM, Kozhikode)
Postgraduate Certificate in Technology Leadership and Innovation (MIT, USA)
Advanced Certificate in AI for Digital Health and Imaging Program (IISc, Bengaluru).
Senior Professor and former Head,
Department of ENT-Head & Neck Surgery, Skull Base Surgery, Cochlear Implant Surgery.
Basaveshwara Medical College & Hospital, Chitradurga, Karnataka, India.
My Vision: I don’t want to be a genius. I want to be a person with a bundle of experience.
My Mission: Help others achieve their life’s objectives in my presence or absence!
My Values: Creating value for others.
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