For many years now, I have been studying overachievers in the professional world; these are people who have high IQ, eminent qualifications, experience, the power of an early start and quite often, very supportive families. You think they are God’s chosen ones and there is no stopping how far they may go. Then one morning you wake up to find the angel fall. Actually, it is not a fall, it is invariably a crash; only splinters remain where once stood a David by Michelangelo. How does that happen? Who kills the angel? I have come to believe that in most such cases, there is no external enemy. Only ordinary people need an external enemy. The overachiever is his best friend and his worst enemy. This probably is life’s way to ensure that we do not become immortal. Its secrets are probably stored in the DNA as much as it is a function of how the neo-cortex responds to the environment.
(This story appears in the 03 August, 2012 issue of Forbes India. To visit our Archives, click here.)
So what if the overachiever has taken the plunge. I am taking baby steps to get back to life but I am now a social and professional outcast. What happens now.
on Aug 20, 2013Bagchi is a Godman in a positive sense.
on Oct 9, 2012Possibly the best articles I have come across in recent times. I have as well read Sir Bagchi\'s High perf.. and his anecdotal and pragmatic way is in prominence here too. Its kind of a short story, blended with various examples the best part is I am not looking forward to read anything more on such an issue. This piece has summed it all.
on Aug 19, 2012Early this morning I was reading this article in \'Forbes\' hard magazine and in day, I was sharing browser-link of same with my colleagues; such of highly impressed I am. I read Subroto Bagchi last time of his interview with Suresh Neotia. Both articles reflect the human side of us which is relatively less exposed or talked about. I am very glad to read the quality, content and message of Subroto. My kudos to him :) Sudhir Mittal Author of book - \'Sud
on Aug 8, 2012Superb....
on Aug 8, 2012Satyam Param dhimhi.YOu have to be pure and work for the sake of god and submit your action and frits of action to good,you should work for wellbeing for the community istead of self.
on Aug 7, 2012\'Overachievers\' as has been mentioned in this article repeatedly, are not a separate species. Nor do they have one extra pair of chromosomes, or a few more rungs in the DNA. They are only humans, with their weaknesses and negative traits. Only since they have \'achieved\' something, anything they do has lots more at stake than the average Joe. On the other hand, if they do not succumb to these weaknesses or in the rare chance that they do not have any weaknesses, then they are called great men. Or said in other words only those who fail somewhere during the journey are called overachievers. Would you call Mahatma Gandhi/Abrahim Lincoln an overachiever?
on Aug 5, 2012sustainability is the key for any business, every strategic move whether in personal or professional life should emerge out of sense of responsibility
on Aug 5, 2012Brilliant. Much needed. Btw, can trekking be a good antidote? - it lets you experience silence; it makes you humble while staring and scaling mountains; and above all, it is an experience where your feet are firm on the ground and the head high up in sky... :)
on Aug 4, 2012Extremely insightful and very well written.
on Aug 3, 2012A thought-provoking article, well written Some data points I liked: - From the CEO to the doorman, we are all factory fitted with the same five sensory organs. How we deploy them and when we suspend them, is a matter of personal choice - Why overachievers go down the path of self-destruction - Satyam's highly accomplished individuals dug a collective grave. Humility reduces the noises in the head and silences us. - Overachievers tell you that they were lucky to be in the right place at the right time. We were all taught as children? - That we should not tell a lie, - we should not take what does not belong to us, - that hard work must give us the fruits of labour? - That we should be nice and polite to others and - most importantly, look before you leap. - Satyam did not need competition to hurt the company, its founder hurt Satyam. - Seven minutes of pleasure brought Bill Clinton, the most powerful man in the world at the time, to rank ordinariness.
on Jul 31, 2012As always, sensible thoughts from Subroto congently scripted. I keep saying it to my colleagues and friends; it\'s always good to be ambitious but it is the greed that kills. Knowing the right time to pause when the adrenalin charges is easier said but doable.
on Jul 31, 2012Very well said sir!
on Jul 31, 2012