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EP007 For The Prize or The Love of It

24 July 2021 By Larry Maguire READING TIME: 1 MINUTE

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In the pursuit of success, we can lead ourselves astray. Caught up in how we might be perceived or in anticipation of the prize, we lose our focus. The work itself becomes less important than the material results. This is detrimental to high performance. High performance can only ever be seen in retrospect. In other words, it's only when the job is done that we get to see the fruit of our work. It's a paradox; we've got to forget about making it happen and get into the work for its own sake. Rewards will be a reflection of our degree of focus, and focus is self-activating – we can't force or coerce it. It is a case of the self becoming absorbed in the work rather than being an observer of it. All thought about our performance takes us out of the work. It is a consequence of the absence of the thinking self that success comes about.

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About Larry Maguire

I'm a work and business psychologist, writer and researcher working one-to-one with people seeking to find clarity and direction in their work and career. I also work with business owners and organisations on leadership, culture, and psychological wellness.

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