Achievement

The Apollo 11 mission was a NASA project to land a man on the moon.

Video: Charles A. Garfield and Peak Performance (1985) by Charles A. Garfield (Related to insights gathered from the Apollo 11 mission)

Achievement, particularly high achievement, is related to several key areas: high and realistic expectations; mental ability; having the required knowledge/skill sets to do the job; conscientiousness, interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence; time management; motivation; ability to focus/concentrate on your tasks/objectives; persistence/grit; goal setting, planning; continuous improvement in performance, and character (honesty, accountability, etc.). See also: Achievement orientation

The Achievement Factors: B. Eugene Griessman's research

See also: Achievement orientation and The Achievement Factors: Candid Interviews With Some of the Most Successful People of Our Time

Benjamin Eugene Griessman, Ph.D., was an internationally known speaker, professor, executive coach, thought leader on high achievement, Lincoln scholar, playwright, actor and television host.

The 1993 book The Achievement Factors: Candid Interviews With Some of the Most Successful People of Our Time by B. Eugene Griessman is a book that focuses on the characteristics of high achievers. In researching the book, Griessman interviewed 60+ people from numerous fields.

Below is a summarized list of what he discovered summarized by coach Bob Starkey:

1. High achievers discover their vocation and their specialty. They find something they love doing. See: Motivation and Passion (psychology)

2. High achievers develop a competency. See: Skill and Self-efficacy

3. High achievers manage their time well. See: Time management

4. High achievers are persistent. See: Grit and Mental toughness and Psychological resilience

5. They channel their needs and desires into their work. See: Motivation and Work ethic

6. They develop the ability to focus and cut out distractions. (See: Prioritization and Cognitive control and Goal setting and Concentration (psychology) and Concentration (Psychology): Book Summaries)

7. "High Achievers Function Appropriately in Their Situations Virtually all the high achievers say that, and a large number of them use the word luck to explain their accomplishments. They also mention the importance of mentors and discoverers and teachers."

8. High achievers perceive opportunities and practice lifelong learning. They learn from others feedback. See: Growth mindset

9. High achievers seize opportunities. See: Results orientation and Comfort zone and Risk and Risk management

Internet archive: Free copy of The Achievement Factors: Candid Interviews With Some of the Most Successful People of Our Time by B. Eugene Griessman

• Free copy of The Achievement Factors: Candid Interviews With Some of the Most Successful People of Our Time by B. Eugene Griessman

Emotional intelligence and achievement

The five components of emotional intelligence are: self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills.

See also: Emotional intelligence and Achievement orientation and Stress management and Self-regulation and Emotion and Empathy and Social intelligence and Interpersonal skills and Peak performance and Mental toughness and Psychological resilience and Antifragility and Comfort zone and Growth mindset and Motivation and Self-motivation and Decision making

Emotional intelligence (EI) "refers to the ability to perceive, control and evaluate emotions."

The five components of emotional intelligence are: self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills.

"Research indicates a strong positive correlation between emotional intelligence (EI) and achievement, suggesting that individuals with high EI tend to perform better academically and professionally due to their ability to manage their emotions, understand others, and navigate challenging situations effectively, leading to increased motivation, resilience, and better decision-making skills."

Source: Emotional intelligence and achievement

Articles:

• IQ vs EQ for Career Success by Diane A. Safer, PhD, International Honor Society in Psychology
• Why Even Smart People Fail. Lack of achievement drive and emotional intelligence
• Lack of Emotional Intelligence and the Impact on Team Performance (5 Key Areas)

Journal articles:

• Emotional intelligence and academic performance: A systematic review and meta-analysis, Thinking Skills and Creativity. Volume 49, September 2023, 101355.
• Emotional Intelligence as Indicator for Effective Academic Achievement within the School Setting: A Comprehensive Conceptual Analysis, DOI:10.20944/preprints202310.2029.v2
• Emotional intelligence promotes optimal learning, engagement, and achievement: A mixed-methods study, Current Psychology 42(2). DOI:10.1007/s12144-021-02294-2

Factors which impede high achievement

• Inadequate preparation (lack of study, relying on poor sources of information, etc.).

• Making excuses

• Bad company. Hanging out with the wrong crowd

• Perfectionism. Viewing mistakes as failures rather than having a growth mindset

• Fear of trying new things.

• Fear of failure.

• Not anticipating difficulties or difficult times

• Getting trapped in the past.

• Being too obedient and unwilling to say "No". Lack of prioritization.

• Getting distracted (See: Concentration (psychology))

• Procrastination and waiting until you "feel" ready

• Lack of persistence and patience. Wanting it all now. Giving up before you start seeing results.

• Lack of consistency. See also: Consistency - video playlist

• Unrealistic expectations

• Lack of self-care (Not taking care of one's spiritual, physical and mental health)

Self-care of one's spiritual/physical/mental health and achievement

See also: Self-care and Achievement orientation and Academic performance and nutrition and Cognitive decline and diet and Consumption of ultra-processed foods and health risks

One's spiritual/physical/mental health does affect how much energy one's ability to learn, one's energy level, and one's achievement levels in life.

Jim Loehr, EdD., is a world-renowned performance psychologist and C-Suite Leadership Coach who has worked with hundreds of world-class performers from the arenas of sport, business, medicine and law enforcement, including Fortune 100 executives, FBI Hostage Rescue Teams, and military Special Forces. Best-selling author Tim Ferris states concerning Jim Loehr: "From his more than 30 years of experience and applied research, Dr. Loehr believes the single most important factor in successful achievement, personal fulfillment, and life satisfaction is the strength of one’s character. He strongly contends that character strength can be built in the same way that muscle strength is built—through energy investment."

See also:

• Academic performance and nutrition

• Cognitive decline and diet

• Consumption of ultra-processed foods and health risks

Jim Loehr on energy management

• Dr. Jim Loehr on Mental Toughness, Energy Management, the Power of Journaling, and Olympic Gold Medals by Tim Ferris
• Managing Your Energy

Videos:

• Jim Loehr and energy management

Quotes

Benjamin Franklin, 1767.

See also: Quotes on achievement

Below are some quotes on achievement.

• "Without continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement, and success have no meaning." - Benjamin Franklin

• "Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence." - Helen Keller

• "Great achievement is usually born of great sacrifice, and is never the result of selfishness." - Napoleon Hill

• “Any great achievement is preceded by many difficulties and many lessons; great achievements are not possible without them.” - Brian Tracy

• “Big achievements come one small advantage at a time, one step at a time, one day at time.” - Jim Rohn

• "Over the years, I've given myself a thousand reasons to keep running, but it always comes back to where it started. It comes down to self-satisfaction and a sense of achievement." - Steve Prefontaine

• "Happiness does not come from doing easy work but from the afterglow of satisfaction that comes after the achievement of a difficult task that demanded our best." - Theodore Isaac Rubin

• "Definiteness of purpose is the starting point of all achievement." - W. Clement Stone

• "Goal setting is the most important aspect of all improvement and personal development plans. It is the key to all fulfillment and achievement."- Paul J. Meyer

• “Comfort is the enemy of achievement.” - Farrah Gray

• "Not in achievement, but in endurance, of the human soul, does it show its divine grandeur and its alliance with the infinite." - Edwin Hubbel Chapin

• "I arise full of eagerness and energy, knowing well what achievement lies ahead of me." - Zane Grey

• "Successful design is not the achievement of perfection but the minimization and accommodation of imperfection." - Henry Petroski

• "Fortune or good luck presents the opportunity, virtue gives one the necessary skills and character to seize the opportunity and achieve success." - Niccolò Machiavelli

Recommended books

• The Achievement Factors: Candid Interviews With Some of the Most Successful People of Our Time by B. Eugene Griessman, Omni Media; 1st edition (November 1987)

• On the Journey to Achievement by John Patrick Hickey, Motivational Press, Inc. (January 21, 2015)

• The Achieving Society by David C. McClelland. Martino Fine Books (December 10, 2010). (Reprint of a 1961 book)

Christian authors

• Peak Performance Principles by John Noe, Frederick Fell Publishers (June 1, 2005)

See also

• Time management

• Project management

Essay:

• Essay: Achievement related articles
• Grit, the key to outstanding achievements