Publisher Comments
CONTENTS Introduction Part 1 Women Of “O” Chapter One: What Is An Overachiever? Part 2: So What If I’m An Overachiever? Chapter Five: Your State Of Mind Chapter Six: Your Long-Term Goals Part 3: What Turns Someone Into An Overachiever? Chapter Seven: Personality Chapter Eight: Upbringing Chapter Nine: A Bad Self Image Chapter Ten: Life Events Chapter Eleven: Necessity Conclusion About The Author Cooper Lawrence is a psychology expert and host of the nationally syndicated talk radio show (aptly named) The Cooper Lawrence Show from Dial Global. Cooper’s show is smart talk about real life. She is a television regular who you have probably seen on CNN's Showbiz Tonight or on the Fox News Channel. She is on the advisory board for CosmoGIRL! magazine, where she writes a regular column called The Love Doctor. In addition, this overachiever is the author of Been There, Done That, Kept The Jewelry and The Fixer Upper Man: How to Turn Mr. Maybe Into Mr. Right. She lives in New York City. One of the challenges of being an overachiever and trying to maintain healthy friendships is that we judge ourselves at an impossibly high level, and we tend to judge our friends at that same level. If they don’t measure up, we are disappointed; we expected more from them. If you’re driven to perfect your life, that’s cool, but just be aware that it may be driving your friends bananas. Perhaps they’re so easygoing they don’t mind that you have expectations even St Frances Xavier Cabrini would fail to live up to. But that doesn’t quell your anxiety – in fact, it makes you wonder if it’s time for new friends who aren’t so laid-back. It’s not, because this is your issue, and it’s time you asked yourself whether anybody can live up to your expectations. You need to step back and judge clearly whether your friends have truly failed you or, like the rest of us, are simply flawed human beings (albeit ones who would give you the last piece of chocolate cake regardless of how PMS they are feeling that day).
One in six women is an overachiever, constantly striving to get more done and do everything better and faster, while looking fabulous at all times—so if you are looking around the room at your five closest friends thinking they’re all slackers, it’s you! Twenty-four hours are simply not enough for all you do in a day. Your calendar is booked solid for the next six months. You set a higher standard for yourself than for everyone else, and you are never fully satisfied with your life, because you can see how much more you can achieve. You are an overacheiver, and that can be a
good thing.
The Cult of Perfection offers practical advice on how to monitor and ease your stress, prioritize your time, build lasting self-esteem, and always feel in control. The goal: To be at peace with your inner overachiever. Psychology and relationship expert (and self-professed overachiever) Cooper Lawrence reveals the positive aspects of an overachieving lifestyle, and how to make it work for you so that you don’t lose touch with family and friends . . . and your own sanity.
This book explores how personality, upbringing, and life events lead to overachieving, and how this drive has an impact on your home and family life, friendships, health, state of mind—and even your future.
Full of candid personal stories from fellow overachievers, The Cult of Perfection confirms that you are not alone in your quest for the best. Informative quizzes, tips, and “to do” lists all provide empowering tools for effectively managing your busy lifestyle.
So set aside some time in your schedule, step off the treadmill, and learn how to delegate, balance your needs, set priorities—and discover that you’re so much more than your achievements.
Quiz: Are You an Overachiever? • Is your life ruled by a “to do” list of goals?
• When you get an idea, do you act upon it immediately, not resting until you have achieved a result?
• Do you always complete your work before the deadline?
• Do you often feel overwhelmed?
• Are you restless even on vacation?
If you answered “yes” to the above questions, chances are you are an
overachiever. But don’t worry—it’s not a dirty word. Join psychology expert and media personality (and self-professed overachiever) Cooper Lawrence as she details the upside of this way of life (whatever you set your mind to, you achieve) and the downside (the stress, anxiety, and self-doubt you sometimes experience). Most important, she provides the tools you need to make peace with your inner overachiever. Packed with practical exercises and real-life stories of overachieving women past and present, The Cult of Perfection helps you harness your incredible energy, focus, and determination, to bring joy and success to your life.
Imprint: skirt!
Distributor: The Globe Pequot Press
Publication Date: 01-01-2008
Pages: 256
Measurements: 9.00in X 6.00in
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