Why High Achievers Make Lousy Friends (Especially to Themselves)

“That’s how we maximize human potential. Thank you.” Applause erupted over the stage with my final line of my TEDxStanford talk.
I walked off stage with the crowd behind me, greeted by more personal cheers from fellow speakers. I spread my arms out as the sound technician de-miked me. Then I pulled out my phone to check emails.
My TEDx talk had landed exactly how I’d planned. Months of preparation with speaking coaches, workshops with professors, rehearsals until my throat was raw — it all paid off.