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Ironically, research has shown that although people feel a sense of pride and satisfaction when they outperform others, some tend to experience a lot of discomfort knowing that they're better than everyone else.
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Some might think that all people want boundless success in their professional life. Who would want to refuse a promotion or turn back when on the brink of stardom? The truth is that many people do. In fact, some of may even sabotage themselves from attaining success by being afraid to take risks, attributing previous successes to luck, or by setting goals so unrealistic that they could never achieve them. There could be many reasons behind these conscious or subconscious actions. A person may find himself/herself unwilling to uproot his/her family for a job, or reluctant to take on the extra responsibilities that often come with success. In extreme cases, some may even have a fear of success.
Besides a fear of success, there are other things that can negatively impact a person's likelihood for accomplishment. Many people have an extreme fear of failure, often as a result of strict achievement standards set by parents and harsh criticism when such standards weren't met. As a result, they internalize these strict standards and often grow up with an excessive fear of making a mistake, being criticized, or losing other people's approval.
People have also been known to fear the social consequences of success. Research has shown that many people who outperform others will downplay their achievements so as not to make those around them feel jealous or inferior. Being more successful than others can leave a person feeling alienated or stigmatized; surpassing friends, classmates, colleagues, or even family can be a particularly harrowing experience for some. Low self-esteem, a lack of ambition, and the belief that success is due to external sources rather than hard work, skills, and talent can also have a significant impact on an individual's potential for success.
The goal of the Success Likelihood Test is to Mary's potential for success and the obstacles that could be holding her back. Although there are many people and external elements that could get in the way, ultimately, it is up to Mary to decide whether to climb that ladder, and how far.
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