Aiming Directly at the Target

Aiming Directly at the Target The American writer, Charles Gafield, who has made a thorough, psychology study of peak achievement, says that “in a study of 90 leaders in business, politics, sports and arts, many spoke of ‘false starts but never of ‘failure’. Disappointment spawns greater resolve, growth or change. Moreover, no matter how rough things get, super-achievers always feel there are other avenues they can explore. They always have another idea to test.” Reader’s Digest, October, 1986 T he writer emphasizes the fact, however, that these high achievers are neither superhuman, charismatic nor even singularly talented. What they do have in common is an “uncanny knack for increasing the odds in their favour through simple techniques that almost anyone can cultivate.” He delineates five major areas of concern. First and foremost, one must have a great sense of mission, and a strong desire to turn everything that comes one’s way to good account. Secondly, one must be result-oriented, so that one is not just preoccupied with unceasing activities, but with a definite outcome of one’s efforts. Thirdly, one has to take stock of whatever knowledge and skills one has and bring out whatever is latent and waiting to be used, so that it can be tuned up to a peak of perfection. Very often, it is not so much a question of adding to one’s knowledge and skills as of developing what is already there—capacities of which we are sometimes barely aware. Frequently, it is one’s initial sense of mission which taps these hidden resources. Sometimes it is impossible to achieve distant goals without the aid of one’s fellowmen, in which case, one has to develop the