How to handle the pressure of being a superstar
July 13, 2017
By Brian Maynor
When we think about all of the struggles at work, being a superstar rarely comes to mind.
Yet, for a lot of over-achievers and standout performers, being a star is both a blessing and a curse. Constantly pushing ourselves to perform at our maximum level is not without its costs.
The curse of becoming a work superstar starts the same way, whether we work in a high-pressure industry or not, with an opportunity to refine and develop our skills in the hopes of achieving a reward. This platform starts the cycle of identifying both our careers and ourselves with our talents, a belief that is often reinforced by our bosses and company culture.
Fortunately there are ways to break the talent curse. Here are three of the most effective ones:
1. Own our talent without being possessed by it. When challenges to our skill set feel like personal attacks that’s a clear indication we’ve become possessed by our talents. The best way to counteract this and restore your perspective is by asking for help. Identifying with our talents often happens when we feel isolated and driven to out perform everyone else. Asking for help shatters this perception and reframes our priorities from doing more than others to doing more with others.
2. Remember we’re more than our best selves. Just like social media, only presenting the perfect and polished aspects of ourselves is tempting, but far from reality. Instead of hiding or shying away from idiosyncrasies, struggles and faults, we should embrace them. They are just as much a part of us as our talents, and can actually help us express them if we learn how to use them.
3. Value the present moment the most. Just like with finding our happiness, valuing the present moment is the most important way to break this curse. Not only is it impossible to gain from the present experience if we’re not invested in it, there is no guarantee in the future. Constantly approaching the present as a stepping-stone to the future is overly presumptuous.
Simply because we are performing at our best, or sit at the top of our game does not mean every opportunity is an obligation and every challenge a test. We are more than our skills and past successes and we need to reassess our situation if we hope to regain balance in our lives and retain the passion for our talents that made us a star.
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I am always curious to hear about your weekend wardrobe dilemmas and help make your work wardrobe pull double duty. Email your questions, quandaries and conundrums to [email protected]. Also find each of these storyboards at http://brianmaynor.polyvore.com with links to purchase each item.
About Brian Maynor
Brian Maynor has built a reputation as one of the leading style coaches in the Southeast and is quickly expanding his eponymous company, BRIAN MAYNOR and his FIND, FLATTER & FLAUNT line of image consulting services. A professional with a fresh, upbeat and down-to-earth personality and boundless creative energy, he works frequently with with local celebrities; Fortune 500 companies and nonprofit organizations; modeling agencies; fashion designers; production companies; record labels; media and individuals. A regular contributor to various fashion blogs and online communities, Brian Maynor is one of the most trusted and recognized style experts in the region, utilizing his education and training as a broadcast journalist to serve as a style lecturer, emcee, and commentator for over a decade. He has appeared at fashion shows, expos, and charity fundraisers, as well as events with big brands like Banana Republic, Ann Taylor, Chico’s and Macy’s. His approach is innovative, creative and fashion-forward, balancing fresh, modern styles with classic pieces to keep one’s look grounded. To learn more, visit http://www.brianmaynor.com.
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