Richard St. John : Success is a Continuous Journey (Unit 21)

Why do so many people reach success and then fail?
One of the big reasons is, we think success is a one-way street.
So, we do everything that leads up to success.
But then we get there, we figure we've made it, we sit back in our comfort zone and we actually stop doing everything that made us successful.
And it doesn't take long to go downhill.
And I can tell you this happens because it happened to me.
Reaching success, I worked hard, I pushed myself.
But then I stopped because I figured, "Oh, you know, I've made it."
"I can just sit back and relax."
Reaching success, I always tried to improve and do good work. But then I stopped because I figured, "Hey, I'm good enough. I don't need to improve anymore."
Reaching success, I was pretty good at coming up with good ideas, because I did all these simple things that lead to ideas. But then I stopped. Because I figured I was this hotshot guy and .I shouldn't have to work at ideas. They should just come like magic.
And the only thing that came was creative block. I couldn't come up with any ideas.
Reaching success, I always focused on clients and projects, and ignored the money.
Then, all this money started pouring in and I got distracted by it.
And suddenly I was on the phone with my stockbroker and my real estate agent. when I should have been talking to my clients.
And reaching success, I always did what I loved.
But then I got into stuff I didn't love, like management. I'm the world's worst manager but I figured I should be doing it.
Because I was, after all, the president of the company. Well, soon a black cloud formed over my head and here I was, outwardly very successful but inwardly very depressed. But I'm a guy. I knew how to fix it. I bought a fast car. It didn't help. I was faster but just as depressed, so I went to my doctor. I said, Doc, I can buy anything I want. But I'm not happy. I'm depressed."

 

 

Vocabulary

• 1

  comfort

  If you are doing something in comfort, you are physically relaxed and contented, and are not feeling any pain or other unpleasant sensations.

• 2

  improve

  If something improves or if you improve it, it gets better.

• 3

  outwardly

  You use outwardly to indicate the feelings or qualities that a person or situation may appear to have, rather than the ones that they actually have.

 

• Example

  People like to live in comfort.

  사람들은 편안하게 사는 것을 좋아한다.

• Example

  The system is improving.

  시스템은 개량 중이다.

• Example

  Though badly frightened, she remained outwardly composed.

  그녀는 몹시 무서웠지만 겉으로는 평정을 잃지 않았다.

 

 

Questions

• 1

  What do you truly love to do that you could do for a career?

• 2

  How will your life change if you become very successful?

• 3

  How can you avoid the same problems that the speaker has?