Latest news with #achievement
Harvard Business Review
6 hours ago
- Lifestyle
- Harvard Business Review
Finding Joy When You Have Limited Free Time
It might seem that high-achievers with important jobs don't need — or even have time for — activities that bring them joy. But it turns out that finding joy at all stages of life (along with achievement and meaningfulness) is essential to feeling satisfied and being a more effective leader. Harvard Business School professor Leslie Perlow has studied busy executives who do – or do not – find joy and explains the main ways that we can all make the most of limited free time, including avoiding passive pursuits and diversifying our activities. Perlow is founder of the Crafting Your Life Project, which created the Life Matrix tool, and coauthor, along with Sari Menster and Salvatore Affinito, of the HBR article 'How the Busiest People Find Joy.'
Forbes
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Scottie Sheffler Shares Solomonic Wisdom That We Can All Apply In Life And Money
'I love the challenge … it's one of the greatest joys of my life, but does it fill the deepest wants and desires of my heart? Absolutely not.' That was the killer quote from a recent interview with the world's number one golfer, Scottie Scheffler, that went viral this week. And I think this one went viral for a reason: It taps into a universal truth or two about humanity that we know at a subconscious level, but that rarely shines through the manic malaise of our achievement-oriented culture. He's better than you (and everyone else) at golf. Life Goes On 'It feels like you work your whole life to celebrate winning a tournament for a few minutes – it only lasts a few minutes, that euphoric feeling,' Sheffler further explained. 'You win it, you celebrate, get to hug my family, my sister's there, it's such an amazing moment. Then it's like, 'OK, what are we going to eat for dinner?' You know, life goes on.' While his language is a touch more approachable, Sheffler is practically quoting ancient wisdom literature attributed to the world's then (in the 10th century, BC) number one, King Solomon, in Ecclesiastes: 'Then I considered all that my hands had done… and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.' Interestingly enough, that fading feeling is explained in the field of behavioral economics through the term 'hedonic adaptation.' This theory notes that we, as humans, can marshal an enormous amount of energy to achieve certain goals, only to experience a pretty rapid dilution of the intensity felt in peak moments. The Upside Of The 'Hedonic Treadmill' And that's not necessarily a bad thing, right? I mean, think about this for a second. What if you only ever achieved your first goal and stayed satisfied with it forever? We wouldn't have made it out of middle or high school! You'd still be stuck in your first job. We'd only have Yo‑Yo Ma's Simple Gifts to enjoy—possibly fully satisfying, if he hadn't later collaborated with Alison Krauss. And we wouldn't even know the name Scottie Sheffler, because he would've stopped after breaking 100 on his home course, or maybe shooting under par for the first time. Yes, on the one hand, perpetually chasing the next shiny achievement can, and often does, lead to an insatiable spirit of striving that can land us with a full resume but an empty life. But there is a healthier version of this narrative that can fully appreciate a desired outcome and still propel us forward to the next. The other upside of hedonic adaptation is that it doesn't just apply to the good and great things we experience, but also to the bad and even horrible. Yes, humans are designed to bounce back pretty quickly, and that, too, is explained by hedonic adaptation. So, What Truly Satisfies? So, if being the very best in the world at something doesn't provide lasting satisfaction, what does? Here again, Scottie seems to be channeling ancient wisdom. Solomon advised, 'Enjoy life with the wife whom you love all the days of your fleeting life… For this is your portion in life…' while Sheffler similarly signals the deeper fulfillment found in his family, even suggesting that it is the service of his family that adds meaning to his work as a professional golfer: 'Every day when I wake up early to go put in the work, my wife thanks me for going out and working so hard. When I get home, I try and thank her every day for taking care of our son.… I'd much rather be a great father than I would be a great golfer. At the end of the day, that's what's more important to me.' Personally, I believe that it would be an oversimplification to suggest that the only avenue in life for genuine fulfillment is family. It may be Sheffler's (and it is a very big part of mine), but not everyone has a spouse, partner, or children. And some people do derive a significant amount of satisfaction from their work. I believe that Arthur Brooks, social scientist, Harvard professor, and best-selling author—may summarize it best: 'Money, power, pleasure, and fame won't make you happy. Faith, family, friends, and meaningful work will.' Scottie Scheffler's raw revelation—'This is not a fulfilling life…I'd much rather be a great father than a great golfer'—reveals the distance between short-lived triumphs and enduring satisfaction. Like Solomon's 'vanity… a striving after wind,' and like the rapid fade of joy described by modern psychology as hedonic adaptation, these highs—even the mountaintop moments—don't fill the soul for long. What Can We Do? So, what ways can we navigate success and failure to suit the science and nudge us ever further to lasting joy? Scheffler's confessions—wrapped in ancient wisdom and modern psychology—are not an argument against ambition, but an invitation: Let our victories move us forward, not define us. And let our lasting fulfillment be found in the people we love, the grief we overcome, and the service we offer.
Fox News
3 days ago
- Health
- Fox News
Study claims vegetarians more 'ambitious' as meat eaters call out 'oversimplification'
A new study is claiming that vegetarians are more driven by power and achievement than meat eaters. While some people agree with this, critics say that labeling people by diet does more harm than good. Vegetarians value achievement and power significantly more than omnivores and put less value on safety, security and kindness, according to a meta-analysis done by John Nezlek, a psychology professor at SWPS University in Poland. Nezlek analyzed three previous studies examining the "basic human values" of over 3,700 vegetarians and non-vegetarians in both the U.S. and Poland. Participants responded to versions of the Portrait Values Questionnaire, created by social psychologist Shalom Schwartz, to assess 10 core human values: universalism, benevolence, conformity, tradition, security, self-direction, stimulation, hedonism, achievement and power. Nezlek, who studies the psychology of vegetarians, expected them to be more focused on nature and personal relationships – universalism and benevolence – and buck tradition, while expecting meat eaters to crave power and achievement. "I assumed [the vegetarians] would have certain pro-social values," Nezlek told Fox News Digital. "The public misperceives vegetarians as weak. They think of the stereotypes: They're tree huggers, they don't want to kill Bambi." He added, "And there's this long tradition of associating meat with masculinity, power and success." Nezlek, however, also a professor emeritus at the College of William & Mary in Virginia, found in his own U.S. studies that, although vegetarians are often non-conformist and value universalism, they were surprisingly less concerned with benevolence and security and were more power-oriented. That pattern led him to launch the larger meta-analysis, which confirmed the findings. Published in May in the journal PLOS One, the analysis showed that, across all three studies, stimulation, achievement and power were more important for the vegetarian groups, which also included some vegans. Vegetarianism is linked more to independence and non-conformity than just compassion for animals or the environment or concerns about health – the main reasons people adopt the diet, Nezlek concluded. He estimates that only about 5% of the U.S. is vegetarian. "The big story in this data is that vegetarians hold their beliefs strongly — and because it's a minority position, they need to have guts and a strong character to do that," Nezlek said. "Just because they love animals doesn't mean they're weak or wallflowers," he added. He said the findings are a reminder that stereotypes are not always accurate. While results varied slightly between U.S. and Polish participants, they were "frighteningly similar," Nezlek said. In terms of limitations, the study did not examine other cultural regions like Latin America or Asia. Nor could it determine whether values shape diet or the reverse, but Nezlek said he believes being vegetarian may strengthen character. Some vegetarians and vegans said they've seen Nezlek's findings to be true in their personal lives. "Just because they love animals doesn't mean they're weak or wallflowers." "Vegetarians often face social pushback from co-workers, family and broader society," Markus Maibaum, a plant-based food expert at Veganivore in Germany and vegan of eight years, told Fox News Digital. "That pressure can lead to distancing from unsupportive environments and a stronger focus on personal resilience and independence." Britt Menhart, executive director of Misfits Coven, a vegan-owned animal sanctuary in Pennsylvania, said becoming vegan has boosted her confidence, her ability to advocate and her strategic thinking skills. "I have seen vegetarians and vegans from many diverse backgrounds become powerhouses in other avenues of life, including starting and owning small businesses, rocking the music industry, speeding up the corporate ladders and starting nonprofit organizations," Menhart said. "Choosing meat isn't about dominance or tradition – it's about quality, transparency and respect for the craft of food." Ryan McCormick, co-founder of New York-based Goldman McCormick Public Relations and a vegetarian of 15 years, called the results "encouraging" but said he doubts they'll shift public opinion. Others, including meat eaters, find labeling people based on diet hard to swallow. "People adopt dietary approaches – whether vegan, vegetarian, ketogenic, carnivore, omnivore or anything in between – for a wide range of reasons," said Nick Norwitz, a Harvard-educated researcher and metabolic health educator. "To cluster individuals based on what they eat and then extrapolate conclusions about their personal values is a dangerous oversimplification," Norwitz told Fox News Digital. "I believe this notion undermines the complexity of human motivation and does more harm than good." Luis Mata, co-founder of the Florida-based online butcher shop Meat N' Bone, said buying into any labels is "lazy." "The idea that meat eaters are driven by conformity is as lazy as assuming vegetarians are joyless," Mata told Fox News Digital. "Extremes on either end of the diet spectrum miss the point," he added. "Choosing meat isn't about dominance or tradition – it's about quality, transparency and respect for the craft of food." Both sides, Mata added, care deeply about where their food comes from and who it affects.
South China Morning Post
4 days ago
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Top scorers celebrated as Hong Kong students receive their DSE results
Wang Haibo from Hong Kong Chinese Women's Club College in Sai Wan Ho celebrates being the... Wang Haibo from Hong Kong Chinese Women's Club College in Sai Wan Ho celebrates being the 'ultimate top scorer' in... share
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Primary school celebrates another year of sporting achievement
A primary school has celebrated another successful year of sporting achievement. Blackwood Primary School held its annual sports presentation on Tuesday, recognising 97 pupils from years 3 to 6 who represented the school in competitions throughout the academic year. The school participated in every event available in the area, with students competing in a wide range of sports including cross country, rugby, basketball, netball, football, bowls, and duathlon. A spokesman for Blackwood Primary School said: "A huge thank you to all our participants for their dedication and sportsmanship this year. "Here's to another stellar year ahead." (Image: Supplied) The year 5 and 6 boys' football team finished second in the Blackwood Cluster League and reached the Caerphilly finals. The girls' football team also enjoyed a strong season, competing in the cluster league, two 'Game On' festivals, and several matches against nearby schools. (Image: Supplied) Tennis teams from the school qualified for the Caerphilly finals, with the year 3 and 4 girls winning the title and the boys finishing as runners-up. (Image: Supplied) The year 5 and 6 boys also took first place, while the girls narrowly missed out on the top spot. (Image: Supplied) Cricket proved to be the school's standout sport this year. After winning the Caerphilly cluster event, the team went on to become champions of the South East Wales cricket finals. (Image: Supplied) Each pupil who represented the school received an award in recognition of their effort and achievement. Year 6 pupils also voted for their 'player of the year' in basketball, bowls, cricket, football, netball, rugby, and tennis. (Image: Supplied) Overall boys' and girls' athlete of the year awards were also presented. The school's ethos, 'United we empower, nurture, challenge,' was at the heart of their sporting success, reflecting their commitment to teamwork, personal growth, and resilience both on and off the field.
