Some years ago, I lived in the beautiful town os Siem Reap at the edge of the great Lake in Cambodia. My work often took me to other provinces and in those days, the best way to go around was by motor boat.
I never forget this one particular trip because no sooner outboard motor died. With a scowl on this face, the owner whipped the cover open, unscrewed the spark plug and in the same box he took another spark plug and screwed it into the engine and started to engine.
After several pulls, the engine came alive and we resumed our journey. The feeling of relief come over me as I thought to myself, " He knows what he is doing...., he has done this sort of thing before". However, fifteen minutes later, the engine coughed convulsively and died again.
Without the slightest hesitation the driver took out the offending spark plug, threw it into the tin box, rummaged around for another spark plug from the same tin, blow on it and screwed it into the engine and away we went again.
The same thing happened again and again every 15 to 20 minutes, and to the annoyance of all passengers, the journey that should have only taken 4 hours, that day took almost 7 hours.
This incidence remind me of the way many people carry out our lives. I do not think they are crazy although their actions maybe a little odd. The reason for their seemingly irrational behavior is their habit. Habit is the opposite of thinking. Thinking is a conscious act; on the other hand habits are unconscious and reactive.
Our failure habits can continually frustrate us and prevent us from doing what we know. Since success comes ultimately from doing what one knows, people with SOS characteristics tend to be low achievers.