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The Super Achiever Stuck

Guest post by: Sylvia Lafair

Article Overview: "Strive for excellence" was the mantra in the alternative school my children attended. It was a high priced, beautifully appointed campus made up of the best and the brightest. Sounds good, huh? Not so fast. Now, years later I see the damage that stress and over achievement cost. You see, all the kids who went there drove themselves crazy being excellent. The translation of the word really meant, did you get all A's and how many fancy Ivy League schools accepted you into the rarified air of the privileged few.

The Super Achiever Stuck

"Strive for excellence" was the mantra in the alternative school my children attended. It was a high priced, beautifully appointed campus made up of the best and the brightest. Sounds good, huh?

Not so fast. Now, years later I see the damage that stress and over achievement cost. You see, all the kids who went there drove themselves crazy being excellent. The translation of the word really meant, did you get all A's and how many fancy Ivy League schools accepted you into the rarified air of the privileged few.

Little time was ever spent enjoying the fruits of victories, mainly because there was another battle for success right around the corner. Being ordinary was simply not acceptable.

This is a warning to all entrepreneurs. Go for excellence and give up perfection and super achievement. It could kill you!!!

I have tracked the children who were school mates of my daughters. Many of them became sick with chronic illnesses in their late 20's and 30's due to the striving for heights, possibly attainable, yet, unrealistic.

The number of relationships that have gone belly up due to work pressure is well into the 75% range. That's higher than the national average that has been settling slightly under 50%.

Here is a word of warning to all super achievers. Pay attention to what really matters. Psychiatrist Elizabeth Kubler-Ross did pioneer work in the areas of death and dying. Her famous comment was that she never sat at the bedside of a dying patient, regardless of age, who said a variation of "I wish I had spent more time at the office."

Think about excellence. It gives a sense of peace and comfort to so something amazing. That is so different from needing to be #1 and win all the awards.

What will be your legacy when it is time to take your final bow?

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Article Tags: achiever, mantra, school, stress, translation



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