Nice entry, Steve. It's rare for the wealthier among us to give an objective perspective on the downside of success.
I'm curious about one thing though. Have you noticed the "dark side" creeping into you as well?
The reason I ask is, in my experience, the largest pitfalls are internal, not external. For example, I've fought against:
1) Haughtiness: Thinking I am better or know better than everyone else because I'm closer to my objectives than they are.
2) Greed: Thinking I deserve a larger portion of the pie, when in reality, no one "deserves" to earn such large amounts of money.
3) Overconfidence: Taking inappropriate risks because I think that I can handle anything.
4) Depression: Feeling a lack of purpose because I'd accomplished everything that I possibly wanted.
I've had to beat each of those one or more times in my career, with varying degrees of difficulty. If you haven't faced them yet, stay on the lookout. Each has the ability to destroy your career. |