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Questions and Answers
What is meant by 'total commitment' in the context of successful individuals?
Which characteristic is primarily associated with high achievers according to the passage?
What might indicate that someone has not found the right goal for their inner self?
How do high achievers typically define 'hard work' differently from the average worker?
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What is a potential downside of total commitment mentioned in the passage?
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What is the key difference between Trudy and Beth regarding their careers?
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How did Erich distinguish himself in his accounting firm?
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What does the passage suggest about the relationship between hard work and success?
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What lesson can be inferred about the importance of setting goals?
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Why is it stated that 'everyone is basically lazy' in the context of the passage?
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What is the primary common denominator identified by Dr. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi regarding activities like chess and tennis?
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What does achieving a flow state require in addition to working hard?
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How can individuals increase their chances of entering a flow state while working?
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What physiological effect does a flow state have on individuals?
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What behavior did Margaret adopt to better facilitate her flow experiences?
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Which of the following statements best describes the relationship between stress and successful individuals?
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What can be inferred about the state of flow in relation to creativity?
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What type of activities is described as demanding controlled risk, as mentioned in the content?
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How is flow primarily described in terms of emotional and physical states?
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What ultimate outcome does reaching a flow state produce in individuals regarding their tasks?
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What is considered a pivotal quality for promotion in corporate settings?
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How does the text describe the relationship between success in business and personal life?
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What do successful individuals who are driven by total commitment often feel?
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What is 'flow' as defined in the text?
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What might individuals with lower energy reserves consider as more realistic goals?
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Study Notes
Total Commitment
- Successful individuals work hard, often 70-80 hours a week, with a deep passion for their work.
- “Total commitment” involves sacrificing personal time and pleasures to focus on goals.
- It's not for everyone, but those who are fully dedicated are willing to make sacrifices for success.
Total Commitment in Business
- People who succeed in business are often described as "workaholics" but they don't view it as a punishment.
- Total commitment is a crucial quality valued by large corporations for potential executives.
- Psychologists look for this quality in candidates, preferring individuals with a strong work ethic and desire for success.
- This dedication is a common denominator among successful individuals, signifying their drive and ambition.
Joe, the Insurance Salesman
- Joe's success is attributed to his total commitment to his work, working long hours and focusing solely on his sales.
- He changed the usual numbers by calling 75 people a day, demonstrating his relentless effort.
- He believes in the law of averages, knowing more calls lead to more sales, proving his belief in consistent hard work.
Energy and Success
- Individuals with boundless energy and ambition are more likely to succeed, but those with lower energy levels should adjust their goals.
- Setting attainable goals allows lower-energy individuals to find fulfillment and satisfaction, creating space for a richer life with time for hobbies and family.
- Total commitment can be a source of happiness and fulfillment, as seen in individuals like Sarah Caldwell, who loves her work and finds joy in moments of "magic."
Flow
- Flow refers to a state of deep immersion in an activity, characterized by a feeling of "magic" or a sense of "being in the zone."
- It's a peak experience that can be highly motivating and rewarding, resulting from total commitment to a task.
- Flow is often compared to the experience of a runner's high or a surgeon's focus on the task at hand, with complete immersion and loss of awareness of surroundings.
Achieving Flow
- Flow cannot be achieved instantaneously, requiring focused effort and uninterrupted time.
- The key is to analyze previous experiences of flow and identify the common elements that trigger it.
- Margaret, the lobbyist, learned to identify the trigger for her flow state and create conditions for it to occur more frequently.
Flow Beyond Work
- Flow is not confined to work and can be experienced in many activities requiring concentration, including games, painting, writing, learning, and sex.
- It’s a euphoric state that can be both rewarding and stressful, as the entire organism operates at a high level.
Benefits of Flow
- Researchers have found that successful people are healthier than those who are not, with a lower mortality rate.
- The stress associated with flow is considered to be a healthy stress, leading to improved health and well-being.
- Successful individuals embrace challenge and risk, finding fulfillment in overcoming difficulties and pushing their limits.
The Importance of Goals
- Hard work alone is not enough for success; it needs to be coupled with a clearly defined goal.
- Those with a definite goal, like Trudy the stewardess, are more likely to achieve success because their efforts are directed.
- Beth, who lacked a clear goal, worked hard but remained stagnant in her career, highlighting the importance of direction.
Inertia and Maximizing Success
- Everyone is inherently lazy, including those with great ambition.
- The secret is to overcome your own laziness and make it easier for others to succeed by simplifying the process and minimizing effort.
- Erich's success as an accountant demonstrates this principle by streamlining the work flow and presenting a well-structured plan for his boss to approve.
Power of Inertia
- Erich used the boss's inertia to his advantage by proposing and implementing a plan to reorganize the office.
- The reorganization increased productivity, making the boss look good to his superiors.
- This resulted in a promotion for both Erich and the boss.
- Erich was promoted ahead of schedule because he understood and took advantage of the power of inertia.
Importance of Total Commitment
- The author argues that total commitment is key to success in business.
- Individuals who go above and beyond, doing "too much," are more likely to be recognized and rewarded.
- They gain credit for their efforts, which leads to faster advancement.
- The sacrifices made are minimal compared to the rewards of achieving success.
- The author encourages individuals to embrace total commitment as the path to success, comparing it to a seductive force that leads to fulfilling one's ambitions.
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Description
Explore the concept of total commitment and its significance in achieving success in business. This quiz examines the sacrifices made by successful individuals like Joe, the insurance salesman, who dedicate themselves fully to their goals. Understand why this quality is highly sought after in corporate environments.
