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I really think there are many many people that have a fear of success, people that certainly have the mental capacity to do well and become successful (not determined necessarily by $$$), but choose to just be average because there is less pressure, no responsibility. Success at anything usually brings with it a certain degree of responsibility and demands that some just don't want to deal with. The guy that turns down a Battlefield Commission because he does not want the added responsibility and just wants to be one of the guys, or the person that turns down a promotion because of the added responsibility. Some like to hide out in academia, they are bright lights but continue the study to avoid success and it's responsibilities.

What are your thoughts on this?

JAB;1035952 wrote: What is success anyway?

I'll agree that there are some to whom it really is a fear of success. On the other hand, I believe there are just as many that make a conscious decision to not work under the pressure that might be required to achieve it.

For me personally, I quit what would be considered a more prestigious sounding job because it was killing me. I was working 16-18 hour days, drinking too much and not eating. Work was all I had. I decided my life was more important and quit before I had a breakdown.

I don't want to work that hard and the salary wasn't worth it to me. I'm less stressed now and make more then enough to meet my needs.


JAB, that's what Cancerians are known for. They are homebodies. They hate pressure, I should know, grew up with one and am raising two of them. Uggh, they let let their inner crab out and it's nasty.

JAB;1035952 wrote: What is success anyway?

I'll agree that there are some to whom it really is a fear of success. On the other hand, I believe there are just as many that make a conscious decision to not work under the pressure that might be required to achieve it.

For me personally, I quit what would be considered a more prestigious sounding job because it was killing me. I was working 16-18 hour days, drinking too much and not eating. Work was all I had. I decided my life was more important and quit before I had a breakdown.

I don't want to work that hard and the salary wasn't worth it to me. I'm less stressed now and make more then enough to meet my needs.


In my opinion, success is anything above what might be considered average. A successful runner?? One who can run the mile faster than average. A successful parent?? One who's raises the family to perform better than average. A successful businessman??? One who receives accolades from his peers for his business acumen.

Working 16 to 18 hour days and drinking to excess are personal choices and hardly ever a requirement for career success and achievement. If so, the person is ill suited for the position IMHO.

JAB;1035952 wrote: What is success anyway?





I don't want to work that hard and the salary wasn't worth it to me. I'm less stressed now and make more then enough to meet my needs.


Jab...........I think that is success

Lon;1035839 wrote: I really think there are many many people that have a fear of success, people that certainly have the mental capacity to do well and become successful (not determined necessarily by $$$), but choose to just be average because there is less pressure, no responsibility. Success at anything usually brings with it a certain degree of responsibility and demands that some just don't want to deal with. The guy that turns down a Battlefield Commission because he does not want the added responsibility and just wants to be one of the guys, or the person that turns down a promotion because of the added responsibility. Some like to hide out in academia, they are bright lights but continue the study to avoid success and it's responsibilities.

What are your thoughts on this?


Success is when you achieve in life what you set out to achieve and that matters to you not what somebody else tells you it is.

posted by lon

Working 16 to 18 hour days and drinking to excess are personal choices and hardly ever a requirement for career success and achievement. If so, the person is ill suited for the position IMHO.


The drrinking is a personal choice I would agree. But in some corporate cultures working long hours and showing "commitment" is one of the things you are expected and have have to do to climb the management ladder. In any sane corporation a manager that can organise his and his staffs time so they can take time off and has a life outside of work would be the one to go for but I too have been in the kind of environment where piling on the pressure was part of the culture. You either put up with or left. It's very destructive and bad management but also very common.

Like JAB I also walked out and now have my own business and make enough for what I want. I could make an awful lot more if I chose to do so- I just don't feel the need to prove anything to anyone.

Lon;1035839 wrote: I really think there are many many people that have a fear of success, people that certainly have the mental capacity to do well and become successful (not determined necessarily by $$$), but choose to just be average because there is less pressure, no responsibility. Success at anything usually brings with it a certain degree of responsibility and demands that some just don't want to deal with. The guy that turns down a Battlefield Commission because he does not want the added responsibility and just wants to be one of the guys, or the person that turns down a promotion because of the added responsibility. Some like to hide out in academia, they are bright lights but continue the study to avoid success and it's responsibilities.



What are your thoughts on this?
IMO, in many cases it's not fear of success so much as fear of failure. Big success takes big risk ... usually public risk. Far easier (and less embarassing) to turn down a challenge than to accept it and fail.