Chapter One
People Who Hit Bottom When They Reach the Top
Few highly successful people contact a mental health professional unless they
experience a crisis. Actually, most successful professionals, even in the throes
of a crisis, are loath to admit to needing a "shrink." The vast
majority of my clients are referred to me by third parties who sense that
without professional help the crisis that their colleague, friend, or lover is
suffering will get worse. Given the energy expended to get a successful person
to accept the need for a psychotherapist, corporate consultant, or executive
coach, some may find it odd that the first thing I do when meeting a new
referral is attempt to illustrate the two ironies of his or her situation.
The first irony lies in the fact that no successful person I can think of became
successful without conquering some form of crisis. Career success signifies an
ability to overcome obstacles, to persevere in the face of competitive threats,
to adapt to change, and to endure grueling periods of deprivation. Someone who
succeeds must have experienced the travails of (1) acquiring a new or
specialized skill, (2) p ... read full excerpt from Reclaiming the Fire ebook
