The Over-Achiever’s Plight

Confession: I’m an over-achiever. For anyone who knows me, this is not news. When someone asks for something to be done Tuesday, I’ll get it to them Monday morning, just to show I can deliver faster than promised. My plight as an over-achiever is this: enough is never enough. It’s not fast enough, and it’s not enough to show what I’ve done when there’s a whole world of things I haven’t done.

In his book, Drive, Daniel Pink shares that what most people want most from their jobs is to accomplish something (anything!). Most of us find this idea resonates deeply.

While I have a strong need to accomplish, this over-achiever confesses it’s not enough to accomplish things. What I’ve found most helpful is the practice of pausing. Thankfully, I have people in my life who help me pause and look back and celebrate what I have done. While the strength of being an over-achiever is all I can achieve, I don’t pause enough to reflect on what I have achieved.

Over the years, many people have said, “Sarah, do you realized what you’ve done? You have a successful business. You have a full new clients call and you don’t market. Look at what you’ve done.” And, not to be braggadocios but my business shows, I have done a lot. But, that’s not what my over-achiever self sees. I see all the things I haven’t done.

My over-achiever’s plight only sees the things I haven’t done. Always. This plight reminds me the act of pausing and looking back actually encourages and fuels my drive to move forward when moving forward is hard or overwhelming.

For those of you, who like me, at times feel overwhelmed or stymied in your work, try one of these three simple things to encourage you on the journey:

• Take 15 minutes, or a half hour, a week to go back over the week and cross items off your to-do list or acknowledge what you have actually accomplished.
• Give yourself permission to pause. Have a second cup of coffee. Sit for 10 minutes and read an article or watch a video clip you’ve wanted to see but didn’t have time for, like Daniel Pink’s Drive. (And for me 10 minutes is a life sentence of stillness…)
• Look at the past six months. Create a timeline of who you’ve worked with, how you’ve made progress in a project, or the important conversations you’ve had. Mark them down and look at what you have accomplished.

Keynote speaker, trainer, and consultant, Sarah Gibson, helps organizations leverage the power of communication, teamwork and diversity to improve engagement and transform teams. To buy her book or inquire about her speaking programs, please visit www.sarahjgibson.com.