The Paradox of Success [Mass Market Paperback]

John R. O'Neil (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 2, 2004

The bestselling book for leaders looking for renewal.

In all fields, many leaders feel that the costs of their professional victories outweigh the rewards. With nearly 30,000 copies sold, The Paradox of Success has helped leaders achieve balance in their lives. John O'Neil, a well-known consultant to top business executives, draws on his fascinating studies of long- distance winners' psychological and business strategies to show the way out of this dilemma, and help readers find steadiness, renew their lives, and reinvigorate their organizations in the process.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The glitter of success can turn to fool's gold, suggests O'Neil, president of the California School of Professional Psychology, in a workmanlike guide for executives who have sacrificed personal values in order to further their careers. This "paradox of success," often seen in workaholism, self-doubt or hubris, substance abuse and family problems, is manifest when the executive's suppressed psychological conflicts are sensed and transmitted throughout his or her organization. Becoming a "long distance winner" requires a commitment to a process of probing self-examination, which will lead to renewal. Having achieved renewal, the executive can sustain it only by continuing to practice self-observation to use time constructively, including through various types of retreats and other activities. In a final chapter O'Neil too scantily discusses the application of renewal principles to organizations themselves.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

When is success not really success? When it leads to stagnation and hubris, says business consultant O'Neil. The very traits extolled by many current books on success and leadership can become counterproductive if they are not tempered by introspection. For example, healthy egos become overinflated, dedication leads to workaholism, and perseverance can harden into a rigid resistance to change. O'Neil shows how busy people need to step back periodically from their workaday lives in order to achieve self-renewal. He identifies a wide range of activities, especially various forms of retreat, that can lead to renewal at both personal and professional levels. Although addressed primarily to leaders, this advice would benefit anyone in a work situation that is pressure-laden but ultimately lacking in real personal satisfaction. Recommended for popular psychology and business collections as an antidote to overly zealous success books.
-Ilse Heidmann Ali, formerly with Motlow State Community Coll., Tullahoma, Tenn.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Tarcher (February 2, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0874777720
• ISBN-13: 978-0874777727
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #127,154 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must read for all leaders, May 18, 2001

By 

John Renesch - "The Great Growing Up"... (San Francisco, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Paradox of Success (Mass Market Paperback)

I first read this book when it came out, at the time the O. J. Simpson story was just breaking. It was PERFECT timing - offering insights into how otherwise highly-successful people can have darker sides show up in their lives unless they periodically renew themselves and take stock - what might be called taking an "internal audit" of oneself. I've often thought the title for this book could have been "The Shadow Side of Success."

I highly recommend this book for anyone who's in a position of influence, power and responsibility (or who WANTS to be). The author has included a rich assortment of ways one can avoid the egoic pitfalls of success and fame - a real MASTERPIECE!

John Renesch, author, Getting to the Better Future

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not just for overachievers, October 31, 2000

By 

S. McHale (Costa Mesa, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Paradox of Success (Mass Market Paperback)

The book is written for leaders, but it does a fine job for us followers as well. It's one of those very rare books that inspire me to make changes - no easy feat, as I am a hard case. In very short order, the author inspired me to look at my failures, behaviors and the shadows that haunt me, make me face the truth about all of the above, and think of an action plan on how to make changes in my life.

Much of the book is devoted to necessity of pause and reflection as an energizer to face working life's challenges - but there are several more gems buried in this short text.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Balance, December 1, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Paradox of Success (Mass Market Paperback)

This book taught me the importance of balance in my life at the time when I needed to learn it the most because I had worked myself into exhaustion and burnout. I can't recommend it enough to those people who have a strong work ethic and are highly ambitious.