Cynics will tell you that, if you ever get asked that tricky job interview question about your weaknesses, it is best to sigh and concede, reluctantly, that "I just work too hard". Outing yourself as a perfectionist who never knows when to stop may be a good way to win the heart of a future employer.

But once you have fast-tracked your way into a new corporation, will you find that this sort of dedication is really wanted? Who is getting on at this company: the sober professionals who commit themselves to the long-term pursuit of excellence in a given field, or the fleet-of-foot "high potentials", who skip from one triumph to the next on an irresistible rise to the top?