| Once there was a man named Roy. Roy was an | | | | Roy was on top of the world. He was in command. |
| above-average guy, but not outrageously so. He had | | | | Still, he knew enough not to let things get out of |
| a good job, a good home, plenty of friends, and he | | | | control. After all, who knows how many sharks could |
| kept active socially and through constructive projects | | | | show up at once? So he eased his way back to the |
| for himself and for the community. | | | | boat, constantly scanning, and as he got near the |
| One day, Roy went to a party. He went alone, just | | | | surface, one of the sharks made one last pass to |
| looking to join up with some friends and maybe | | | | test Roy's mettle. Once again, Roy confronted the |
| make some new ones. He poured himself a drink | | | | shark, and it turned and moved away. It could have |
| from the bar, and then he looked around the room | | | | been confused or disinterested, but to Roy it was |
| to see who was there. In the far corner, he saw a | | | | beaten, and he was the victor. |
| rather large group of people listening to a man speak. | | | | Just then Roy felt a jolt. It shot through his body |
| His name was Chad. Roy could see from Chad's | | | | and then was gone, but Roy knew something was |
| clothes and his demeanor that he was a very | | | | very wrong. A searing pain started to throb from |
| successful man. He was tan, he spoke with | | | | what seemed to be his left foot. He felt his heart |
| conviction, and he seemed to have a certain charm | | | | start to pound, and he looked down in horror to see |
| about him. The men who were listening to him | | | | his left leg gone from just below the knee, with the |
| seemed to admire Chad like a sports idol, and the | | | | water turning red from the blood oozing from his |
| women seemed to be fascinated by his presence | | | | remaining stump. |
| and his natural magnetism. Roy decided he would go | | | | A shark he'd never seen had come up from below |
| over and listen to what Chad had to say. | | | | and hit its mark. Panic set in and Roy raced for the |
| Roy quickly learned that Chad was recounting the | | | | boat, fighting to get aboard before another shark |
| events of his recent vacation to the Bahamas. He'd | | | | could make a pass and strike. Roy's head hit the |
| spent a couple of weeks there, enjoying the sun, the | | | | surface, and he screamed at the captain to help him |
| nightlife, and the recreational activities. As Roy joined | | | | in. Once aboard, the captain fashioned a tourniquet |
| the group, Chad was telling them about a particularly | | | | out of his own belt, applied it, and frantically dug out |
| memorable day he had scuba diving. | | | | his first aid kit with one hand while he radioed for |
| "It was the most exhilarating experience I've ever | | | | help with the other. |
| had," Chad recalled. "Being down there in this | | | | Weeks later, back in his home town, Roy was |
| 3-dimensional world, and being compelled to stay | | | | adjusting well. He'd gotten quite adept at his new |
| keenly aware of everything around me, including | | | | style of getting around. The crutches that were once |
| above and below. Then, sure enough, as I was | | | | his helpers were now his tools. He'd already begun |
| promised, a few sharks came into view. They | | | | discussions with his doctor about options for a |
| seemed to be just curious at first, but it didn't take | | | | prosthetic device. |
| long before they started coming in for a closer look. | | | | Roy was ambling down the street one day, when |
| Of course, my initial reaction was to want to retreat, | | | | who did he come across but Chad. Chad recognized |
| but I remembered hearing that if you act like prey, | | | | him from a brief conversation they'd had the night of |
| they'll treat you like prey and attack. | | | | the party, and he was dismayed to see Roy in his |
| If you confront these beasts, look them right in the | | | | condition. |
| eye, they're not accustomed to that, and their | | | | "Roy! Jesus! What happened to you?" |
| aggressive instincts don't kick in. So each time I saw | | | | "Chad, I heard what you said about your adventure |
| one approach, I'd edge toward it, moving as little as | | | | in the Bahamas, and I saw how everyone admired |
| possible, and I'd look it right in the eye. Sure enough, | | | | you, and honestly, I was impressed and I wanted to |
| it would only come so close, and then veer off and | | | | emulate you. I went down there, but things didn't |
| move away! It was awesome. I started out with a | | | | turn out so well. I got bitten by one of the sharks |
| bit of trepidation and uncertainty, but that quickly | | | | that I went down to confront." |
| turned into a sense of power as I learned how, with | | | | "Oh, Roy, that's terrible! I don't know what to say. |
| a little mental discipline, I could control the situation." | | | | Are you handling things okay?" |
| Everybody was awestruck. You could see it in the | | | | "Well, things are getting better, but of course it's still |
| men's eyes and in their slight nods, sort of like | | | | hard. But Chad, I've been meaning to ask you- I |
| subliminal high-fives, as if celebrating Chad's manhood | | | | mean I was really careful down there, and I didn't do |
| somehow made them a bit manlier. The women, well! | | | | anything reckless. I was just curious: how long were |
| The women were all cooing and posturing, vying for | | | | you in the water when you were swimming with |
| Chad's attention. It was obvious they thought he | | | | those sharks?" |
| was quite a catch, and they weren't above | | | | "Oh, I don't know. Around 20-25 minutes, I guess. I |
| competing for the prize of being his prize. | | | | remember I started out with 45 minutes of air in my |
| Roy reacted in a much deeper way. He realized that | | | | tank, so, well, you know how it is." |
| experiences like Chad's were exactly what were | | | | "Yeah, sure, I know. But Jeez, I was only in there |
| missing from his life, and he decided then and there | | | | maybe 6 or 7 minutes and then this had to happen. I |
| to do something about it. As good as he had things, | | | | can't believe you were able to stay down so long |
| his life paled in comparison to the fullness of Chad's, | | | | and not get attacked." |
| and Roy could certainly use a good confidence-builder | | | | "Well, Roy, actually, when I was down there, I was in |
| to help him compete in life, not to mention in the | | | | what they called a shark-proof cage, so I could see |
| dating game, too. | | | | everything but the sharks couldn't actually get to |
| So off to the Bahamas Roy went. He took scuba | | | | me." |
| lessons and got certified for solo dives, chartered a | | | | "What? Are you kidding me? You never said anything |
| boat, and had the captain take him out to an area | | | | about that at the party!" |
| off the coast where shark sightings were common. | | | | "Well, no one asked, and I never lied about anything. |
| Roy couldn't get underwater soon enough. This was | | | | I just never mentioned it because, well, I don't know |
| it: adventure, excitement, and an incredible challenge, | | | | if you noticed, but the chicks really eat this stuff up |
| where before there was nothing but a foolish and | | | | and, uh..." |
| empty satisfaction from bumping his head against the | | | | "Yeah, I noticed! And as long as we're 'fessing up so |
| same ceiling of accomplishment day after day. | | | | much, I'll admit that the reaction you were getting |
| It's time to live! Roy tumbled into the water and felt | | | | from the chicks was one of the reasons I went |
| the instant weightlessness. He got his bearings and | | | | down there. I know I'm responsible for my own |
| steadied his breathing. He scanned the area in every | | | | actions, but Christ! I can't believe you were in a |
| direction, admiring all the beauty there was to behold, | | | | freakin' cage the whole time." |
| but also looking deeper, searching for those higher on | | | | "Well, hey, it wasn't like I was doing anything illegal. |
| the food chain than him so he could make his stand | | | | People use those cages all the time. I still got the thrill |
| and test himself. | | | | of being down there with those sharks, but I wasn't |
| They did not disappoint. Within minutes the first | | | | about to do anything stupid that I'd regret for the |
| shark arrived. It swam in a meandering pattern, but | | | | rest of uh, well, I mean..." |
| Roy was not fooled by the shark's pretense of | | | | "Yeah, I know what you mean." |
| disinterest. Slowly the shark came closer, and when it | | | | The two men said their good-byes and went their |
| got around 20 feet away, Roy noticed another one | | | | own way, each a little slower than before. One was |
| coming into view from another angle. Roy's adrenaline | | | | hobbled by the weight of pity; the other by the |
| floodgates were bulging, but he kept himself in | | | | weight of self-pity, and, of course, because he was |
| check, constantly scanning in all directions for | | | | hobbled. They would both get over their encounter |
| additional company. | | | | with each other, but while neither will ever forget his |
| The first shark made his way up close to Roy, as if | | | | experience in the Bahamas, only one will be able to |
| to verify the preliminary reports from its keen | | | | occasionally put it out of his mind. |
| senses, but Roy pushed his upper torso toward it | | | | MORAL OF THE STORY: High achievements aren't |
| and looked it right in the eye. Sure enough, the shark | | | | reached by taking risks. They are reached by |
| veered off! It was as though the shark was saying, | | | | MANAGING risks. |
| "Whoa, Dude! No need to get uppity or anything!" | | | | CORROLARY: When asked to reveal the secrets to |
| Roy's initial anxiety was quickly replaced by | | | | their success, high achievers tend to emphasize the |
| confidence, but he did not let his guard down. He | | | | taking of risks and downplay the management of |
| knew there was another shark close by, and now, | | | | them. Low achievers tend to think that managing |
| yes, a couple more were moving in. It took some | | | | risks is somehow like cheating, and being a |
| maneuvering, but Roy managed to get himself in | | | | risk-"taker" holds higher esteem. Do you think Chad |
| position each time he saw one approach, and each | | | | cheated? Do you think Chad cares what you think? |
| time they yielded to his assertive posture. Within | | | | Would you rather be in Chad's shoes or in Roy's |
| minutes, Roy had encountered 7 or 8 sharks, all of | | | | shoe? Have you ever gotten advice from a high |
| whom had backed off from their preludes of | | | | achiever? Do you think, now, that there might have |
| aggression. | | | | been something missing from that advice? |