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LEADERSHIP IS A PROCESS OF SOCIAL INFLUENCE, WHICH MAXIMISES THE EFFORTS OF OTHERS TOWARDS THE ACHIEVEMENT OF A SHARED GOAL.

Saturday, February 06, 2010

Are You Afraid of Success?

We all know that people can be afraid of failure, but did you know that many people are afraid of success?

No one likes to fail. But some people are so focused on the possibility of failure that they become over-anxious and unable to perform. Their fear of failure actually creates failure.

There are people who manage to sabotage their own efforts, often unconsciously, not because they are afraid of failure, but because they are afraid of success.

You see, we all carry around a mental picture of ourselves, and if success is not a part of that picture, we are in trouble. While a part of us wants success and all that goes with it, another part is silently saying, "That is not like me. I am not comfortable with this kind of responsibility," or something along those lines.

We may be perfectly capable of success in other ways, and we may have all the necessary skills and abilities. But it is like growing a pumpkin inside a jug. You can slip a flowering pumpkin vine inside a jug, and the pumpkin will grow to be jug-shaped. Later, you break the glass and you have a jug-shaped pumpkin.

You see, your picture of yourself, your self-concept, is like the glass jug. It tells you where your limits are. Techniques like affirmation and visualisation are used to help when you want to get a bigger jug or, in other words, when you want to comfortably stretch your idea of who you are and what you are capable of.

With practice, you can get to the place where neither failure nor success will upset you.
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Irsay's Leadership Alters the Image of Indianapolis Colts and the City of Indianapolis

Jim Irsay still treasures the memories from his early, carefree days in the NFL. Like other ball boys, he mingled with the Indianapolis Colts' stars, listened to their stories and complaints, and got a firsthand glimpse into the rough and tumble world of pro football.

For Irsay, this was not just some easy summer job, it was a full-fledged apprenticeship that came with myriad lessons - some of which he continues to rely on more than three decades later as the Colts owner.

"Basically, the thing that you really get to learn is how important everyone is in the organisation," he said. "When I see our ball boys and the guys who work in equipment, I can totally relate to everything they have to do and those responsibilities. You really, really learn what it's about with players, and all of those intimate moments you share are just invaluable."

Perhaps that's the reason Irsay stands where he is today, with his team ready to play for its second Super Bowl title in four years. A win over New Orleans next week would allow the Colts (16-2) to stake their claim as the decade's best team, and create even more fervor for the NFL club in a city and state historically dominated by basketball.

For more, see - http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/breaking-news/story/1454164.html
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