Maulana Wahiduddin Khan | ST Weekly blog | Nov 13, 2017

American writer Charles Garfield, who studied the psychology of peak achievement, says that "in a study of 90 leaders in business, politics, sports and arts, many spoke of 'false starts' but never of 'failure'". Disappointment spawns greater resolve, growth or change. No matter how rough things get, superachievers always feel there are other avenues they can explore.

Garfield emphasises that these high achievers are neither superhuman, charismatic nor even singularly talented. What they do have in common is an "uncanny knack for increasing the odds in their favour through simple techniques that almost anyone can cultivate". He lists three major areas of concern.

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First, have a great sense of mission, and a strong desire to turn everything that comes one's way to good account. Secondly, be result-oriented, so that one is not just preoccupied with unceasing activities, but with a definite outcome of one's efforts.

Thirdly, take stock of whatever knowledge and skills one has and bring out whatever is latent and waiting to be used so that it can be tuned up to a peak of perfection.

In highly competitive situations, encourage other competent people to make a significant contribution to your own performance. No one sails through life without bumping into obstacles.

The initial feeling of disappointments should quickly transform itself into a great determination to try harder, to alter one's approach, to seek different and better ways of achieving one's goal, and to channel one's energies more effectively towards the ultimate target.