Is This You?
If you're here, chances are you're someone who relentlessly pursues their goals. Whether it's a Spartan Race, a marathon, your career, trade, or hobby, you have goals. Can you relate to any of these scenarios?
You go to the gym even when you'd rather nap, and you run regardless of the weather.
You set standards for yourself and adhere to them, even if they are higher than those of others.
You've already planned your race season, booked hotels and flights, and arranged time off work to make it happen.
You've decided how many Trifectas you'll achieve this year, aimed for a new marathon personal best, and have a training plan to reach it. You know exactly what steps to take to meet your objectives.
You monitor your diet and strive to support your training with quality nutrition.
You're the go-to person for everyone, and you wear that badge with pride.
You're not alone in this journey. Conscientiousness is one of the big five personality traits in the Five Factor Model. It means you're organized, responsible, dependable, and goal-
oriented. People who score high in conscientiousness are disciplined, careful, and enjoy planning ahead. They're reliable and persistent in pursuing their goals. It's also the key component in becoming a high achiever, someone who consistently accomplishes what they set out to do, whether in racing, business, or life in general.
We all admire high achievers; they're the individuals we look up to and try to emulate. We read their books, watch their YouTube videos, and follow their blog posts. However, there are hidden dangers we need to be aware of if we want to achieve genuine self-awareness.
The Hidden Pitfalls of High Achievement
It's quite evident that high achievers excel in their endeavors. They understand what needs to be done, execute it, and then repeat the process. This consistent demonstration of competence yields results. What's the downside? While their friends might applaud them for being impressive, high achievers simply see it as fulfilling their responsibilities and don't consider it anything remarkable. The skills and disciplines they apply are viewed as the minimum acceptable standard of work and quality necessary to accomplish anything.
What others perceive as extraordinary, they see as the basic entry level to achieve anything.
Because goal setting and achievement is a process, not an extraordinary event, they reach their targets. As a result, success becomes an expectation, making the accomplishment feel less gratifying. And since the process is the actual reward, they're already focused on the next challenge. Conquering back-to-back tough races on the weekend is just another day at work. Setting a marathon personal record was anticipated. But there's a catch: if this isn't managed carefully, it can lead to one inevitable destination, the bustling CIty of Burnout.
What is Burnout?
Burnout occurs when you are completely exhausted physically, emotionally, and mentally due to ongoing stress. It sets in when you feel overwhelmed, emotionally drained, and unable to keep up with constant demands. Over time, continuous stress without a break can lead to feelings of detachment, cynicism, and unfulfillment, even though, as a high achiever, you are accomplishing a lot. High achievers often face burnout because they push themselves to meet their own high standards, seeing it as the only path to competence.
The path to burnout is clearly marked, with signs and GPS directions indicating its approach. Do any of these signs of burnout apply to you?
You feel exhausted, constantly tired, or lacking the energy to keep up with commitments you've made to yourself.
You feel detached from work or people, leading to cynicism or a negative, critical attitude towards others, especially those who don't meet your high standards.
You feel unable to reach your personal achievement goals, resulting in feelings of failure or incompetence, even if those feelings aren't based on reality.
High Achievement and Burnout
Conscientious individuals often set high standards for themselves and are highly motivated to achieve them. High achievers with a strong sense of duty and responsibility might overextend themselves by taking on too many tasks or pushing themselves excessively, resulting in physical and emotional exhaustion. While striving for excellence can lead to
success, it can also cause stress, frustration, and burnout if they constantly feel they are not meeting their own standards or fear making mistakes. This self-imposed pressure makes it challenging to be objective, as these standards are set by the achievers themselves, not by others.
Since conscientious people frequently focus on work and achieving goals, they might neglect self-care or work-life balance. Over time, this can result in physical and mental exhaustion, leading to burnout. High achievers with a strong sense of responsibility may find it difficult to delegate tasks, believing that only they can perform them correctly. This results in increased workload, stress, and ultimately, burnout.
How Can You Manage the Curse of Achievement?
High achievement is part of your personality, and you shouldn't try to change it. However, by shifting your perspective slightly, high achievement can become more powerful, productive, and sustainable. Here are some suggestions from someone who learned through experience:
Instead of viewing achievements as chores, focus on what you want to accomplish or what genuinely excites you. Choose races that take you to new locations, try a distance you've never attempted before, or focus on something outside your usual expertise.
Enjoy the journey rather than just concentrating on the final outcome. Train in a different environment, with new people, or discover a new restaurant at a race venue. Celebrate small victories along the way to make reaching your goals more enjoyable.
Take a moment to reconsider what success means to you, rather than measuring it solely by external standards. Personal records are great, but consider other aspects like new people you meet or interesting places you visit. Keep the personal record in mind, but don't let it be your only focus.
Give yourself permission to take a break when things don't go as planned. High achievers typically don't make excuses, so try to understand why things didn't work out. Accept your imperfections, knowing that mistakes are part of growth, which can reduce stress and enhance happiness.
Ensure you prioritize your overall well-being and make time for relaxation and social connections. For a high achiever, this might not mean lounging on a beach with a Mai Tai, but anything not entirely goal-oriented is a good start. Engaging in activities for pure enjoyment, like reading a book, can help maintain balance and prevent burnout.
Summary
Robots are created to strictly follow their programming. Sentient and self-aware individuals, however, can understand their distinctiveness, leverage it, and utilize it for particular objectives. By directing your high-achievement characteristics to areas where they are most advantageous, you can cultivate a personality that surpasses your inherent guidelines. This strategy will result in greater satisfaction and alter your achievement trajectory. By embracing simple, long-term strategies, you can nurture yourself today to become the person you aspire to be.
References
Schouwenburg, H. C., & Lay, C. H. (1995). Trait procrastination and the Big Five dimensions of personality. Personality and Individual Differences, 18(4), 481-490.
Frost, R. O., Marten, P. A., Lahart, C. M., & Rosenblate, R. (1990). The dimensions of perfectionism. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 14(5), 449-468.
Brenner, D., & Egloff, B. (2013). The role of personality in the development of burnout. Journal of Research in Personality, 47(3), 300-306.
Carver, C. S., & Scheier, M. F. (1998). On the self-regulation of behavior. Cambridge University Press.
Moss, E. M., & Cumming, J. M. (2020). Perfectionism, burnout, and well-being: The role of self-compassion in high-achieving individuals. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 50(4), 216-225.
Saks, A. M. (2006). The influence of job satisfaction and organizational commitment on turnover: A meta-analytic test of a structural model. Journal of Applied Psychology, 91(3), 719-734.
Diener, E., & Biswas-Diener, R. (2008). Happiness in the workplace. In P. L. Perrewé & D. C. Ganster (Eds.), Exploring Theoretical Mechanisms and Perspectives. Research in Occupational Stress and Well-being, 6, 1-27.
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