The pages of history are replete with stories of super achievers who took years - of sweat, stress and sacrifice - to reach the top of their respective professions, only to tumble over the precipitous edge of the swirling waterfall of a sex scandal. Is sex a help or a hindrance, as you climb the peak called career success?

The Sex Hall of Shame contains the names of some of the world's most brilliant, talented, ambitious and formerly most influential people. Israel's King Solomon was reputedly the wisest man of the ancient world, but he later lost his way because of his unrestrained sexual appetite. Samson was reputedly the strongest man of ancient times, but gave up his greatness to the seductive sensuality of Delilah. World famous US televangelist Jimmy Swaggart toppled ignominiously from his lofty perch when his sexual infidelities came to light in the '80s. US President Bill Clinton missed impeachment by a whisker for playing 'fast and loose' with the truth in attempting to cover up his amorous dalliances with Whitehouse intern Monica Lewinsky. His legacy will forever be smeared by his sexual affair. Premature resignations in the corporate and political arenas are too numerous to mention.

emotional stress

Besides the exposure, there is the distraction of emotional stress and financial losses from a separation or divorce, private settlements or lost endorsement deals for celebrities.

Sexual affairs can also negatively affect your career in another important way. One man told me, "I counted over 50 women that I've had sex with, and I just got tired of counting and stopped." Now, imagine the time, money, energy and creative mental resources, channelled in the pursuit and enjoyment of sex, that could be harnessed for professional achievement.

physical expression

According to Napoleon Hill, author of the great success classic, Think and Grow Rich, "From the analysis of over 25,000 people, I discovered that the majority of people who succeed do not begin to do so before the age of 40 to 50. This is due to their tendency to dissipate their energies through overindulgence in physical expression of the emotion of sex. Most persons never learn that the urge of sex has other possibilities, which far transcend in importance that of mere physical expression."

Sexual desire is one of the most powerful of human desires. The renowned 18th-century philosopher David Hume captured an eternal truth in his famous insight: "Reason is the slave of the passions," which is particularly relevant when that passion is sexual.

Driven by this desire, many people develop their latent creative abilities to genius levels. They discover hidden reserves of inner courage, determination and fortitude they didn't know before. Some otherwise highly rational people, however, risk their reputation, fortunes and even their lives to indulge their desires to their detriment.

It is the opportunity of anyone to practise self-mastery and thereby prevent a sizzling affaire from resulting in a fizzling career.

Glenford Smith is a motivational speaker and personal achievement strategist.

glenfordsmith@yahoo.com