By CA Surekha
Why Me? A Life & Family Business Lesson Worth Remembering
In the world of sports, business, or family life, success often brings admiration, but suffering brings questions. One story that continues to inspire generations is that of Arthur Ashe, the legendary Wimbledon champion.
When Arthur Ashe was dying of AIDS, contracted from an infected blood transfusion during heart surgery, he received a letter from a fan asking:
"Why did God choose you for such a bad disease?"
Arthur Ashe’s reply was profound:
“50 million children start playing tennis. 5 million learn to play properly. 500,000 play professionally. 50,000 come to the circuit. 5,000 reach Grand Slam tournaments. 50 reach Wimbledon, 4 reach the semifinals, 2 reach the finals, and when I was holding the cup in my hand, I never asked God – ‘Why Me?’ So today, in pain, how can I ask God – ‘Why Me?’”
This answer carries a universal truth – one that applies equally to life, leadership, and family businesses.
The Hidden Message for Family Business Leaders
In family businesses, too, not everyone reaches the top.
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Millions dream of wealth, but only a few inherit it.
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Thousands take over legacy enterprises, but only a handful scale them.
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Even fewer pass them on successfully to the next generation.
When success comes, rarely do we pause and ask “Why Me?”. Yet, when trials strike—whether it’s business challenges, family disputes, or financial setbacks—we quickly question our destiny.
The truth is, every privilege carries responsibility. Just as Arthur Ashe accepted his suffering with dignity, family business leaders and heirs must accept both fortune and trial with grace.
Life Lessons for the Next Generation
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Happiness keeps you sweet. Success in business should not harden you but make you grateful.
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Trials keep you strong. Every recession, market shift, or internal conflict is an opportunity to build resilience.
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Sorrows keep you human. Behind wealth and reputation lies empathy—never forget it.
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Failure keeps you humble. Not every expansion works, not every investment succeeds; learn and bow to the process.
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Faith keeps you going. Family values, traditions, and Dharma are the true anchors when storms hit.
A Mirror of Perspective
Sometimes we envy what we don’t have, forgetting that others envy what we do.
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A child on a farm looks at a plane and dreams of flying.
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A pilot in the plane looks at the farmhouse and dreams of a quiet home.
That’s life. In business, too, the entrepreneur craves peace while the employee craves freedom; the wealthy wish for simplicity while the struggling wish for riches.
The answer lies not in constant comparison but in living simply, walking humbly, and loving genuinely.
The Ultimate Family Business Reminder
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If wealth guaranteed happiness, the richest would be the most content.
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If power guaranteed security, the powerful would sleep unguarded.
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If beauty and fame guaranteed lasting love, celebrities would never separate.
The same applies to family businesses:
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A strong balance sheet doesn’t guarantee unity.
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A famous surname doesn’t guarantee legacy.
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Only values, humility, and gratitude ensure continuity.
Whether in sports, life, or family business—success is never owed, it is gifted. And every gift comes with responsibility. Instead of asking “Why me?” in times of pain, let us remember to say “Why me?” in times of blessing.
Because in the end, it is not wealth, power, or fame that sustains us—it is faith, family, and humility that truly keep us going.
Live simply. Lead humbly. Build genuinely. The rest will come back to you.
