Overachiever/High Performer
- Peter K F Cheung SBS
- May 17, 2021
- 2 min read
FADE IN.
Act 1
INT. STUDY - MORNING
Phone in hand, PETER is pondering.
PETER (V.O.): Here's a Quora answer request for me: What do overachievers want to achieve other than their careers?
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Overachievers are perfectionists. They judge their worth based purely on their successes. They avoid failings at all costs.
Peter begins to type on his phone.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): They want to reach the finishing lines of all of their goals. So achieving their careers are just part of their goals.
Typing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Overachievers need to achieve more and they'll strive to do that.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Achieving more can't be bad, except that overachievers may sacrifice their health, relationship and happiness in their pursuits.
Act 2
EXT. GOLDEN COAST - LATE MORNING
Peter is swimming near the outer boundary of the bay water.
PETER (V.O.): Am I an overachiever?
Reflecting.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I'm quite a perfectionist. I'm committed to not just meeting but exceeding others' expectations in my performance.
Swimming.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Having worked for over 40 years, I still have the stress and anxiety, as I'm very demanding of myself too.
Swimming.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Days ago when I turned 67, I made a wish that I might work for another 30 years. That evidences my focus or worry on the future.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): When I was with the Government, I did work too much and didn't take holidays.
Pausing
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): And I did sacrifice a bit of my health, relationship and happiness in my pursuits.
Swimming.
PETER (V.O.): But I never lost my temper and I never acted imprudently. I exercised able leadership and played my due role.
Swimming.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): And now, I 'm enjoying my present.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): And I've done less, particularly in song-writing, as I've become concerned how well are my songs.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): All in all, I think I wasn't, and am not, an overachiever. I'm a high performer.
EXT. ROADS - EVENING
Driving leisurely, Peter listens to the radio.
PETER (V.O.): The story is about Fan Zongyan (范仲淹). He was a very high-ranking scholar-official, who worked for the Government for several decades.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I worked for the Government for several decades, retiring just as a department head.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Dealing mostly with legal policy, was I a scholar-official?
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): A late uncle of mine often remarked that I was scholar-like...
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I love Fan's famous saying: Be the first to worry about the country's problems and the last to enjoy the joy of its fortune. 先天下之憂而憂,後天下之樂而樂.
Thinking.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Was Fan an overachiever or high performer nearly 1000 years ago?
Peter continues to follow the story.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Oh, he died at the age of 63. That might be a reasonable life expectancy then.
Act 3
INT. STUDY - NIGHT
Peter researches with his phone.
PETER (V.O.): During Fan Zongyan's official career development, he proposed reforms on administration and education.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): He is also known for his prose and poetry.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): And he has 4 sons and 3 daughters.
Pondering.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I can't and wouldn't beat him. I'm content just to be a high performer.
Reflecting.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I'll think more before acting.
FADE OUT.
THE END
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