Are You a Victim of the Excellence Plateau? (And how to find your “Happy Success”)
In the relentless pursuit of success, today’s leaders and CEOs are often inundated with the mantra that hard work is the cornerstone of achievement. From the boardroom to motivational seminars, the message is clear: relentless effort is not just encouraged, it’s expected. Yet, in the high-stakes world of executive leadership, this unceasing drive can lead to an insidious paradox which I’ve named the excellence plateau—a point where burnout and boredom take over and further effort yields diminishing returns. Most concerning is the looming threat of burnout, where the unrelenting pace and pressure can erode not just productivity, but also well-being and personal fulfillment.
As the business landscape becomes increasingly complex and competitive, understanding the dynamics of these challenges is crucial.
Let’s dive into the reality of the work-hard ethos, and how you can navigate beyond it without sacrificing your health and happiness for success. But instead, discovering your “Happy Success”.
First, let’s get one thing straight: happiness and success are not the same thing.
True happiness and fulfillment come from 3 things: deep, meaningful relationships, personal growth, and helping others. The key to having both success and happiness is not to sacrifice these critical factors in the name of success. Success doesn’t create happiness, but happiness is what makes success effortless, spacious, and deeply fulfilling.
Happy success is achieved by following the thread that makes one feel vibrantly alive, embracing intuitive, joyful energy. Building strong teams, healing the myth of hard work, and living in one’s zone of genius are key components of effortless success.
Grit is the #1 predictor of success.
High wealth leaders and founders often differ in that they have more guts, grit, and willingness to take risks. This gets them where they want to go, but doesn’t necessarily prepare them to really “be” there. You have to go from excellence into flow. You have to leap into your genius in order to break through to the other side.
When in your zone of genius, everything grows in an effortless way.
The patterns that created your success are what will keep you stuck. Excellence gets you far (with enough pushing and hard work), but it plateaus in a space of burnout and boredom. You wonder “is this it?” and you have nobody to share your doubts, fears, and disappointment with. If you want effortless success, you need to awaken into your zone of genius.
The path to successful leadership is fraught with challenges, from the daunting excellence plateau to the pervasive threat of burnout. It’s clear that the old adage of working harder, not smarter, needs a modern revision. Leaders and CEOs must prioritize not only their professional goals but also their personal well-being.
Embracing balance, delegating effectively, and fostering a supportive work environment are just a few ways to ensure that excellence is not only achieved but sustained.
Remember, true leadership is about guiding others while also taking care of oneself. It’s about creating a legacy that’s built on enduring success and well-being. Here’s to leading with resilience, wisdom, and a mindful approach to both personal and professional excellence.
