of today, having set their financial sights high in the greed-driven years of the 1980s. They well may have targeted their lives long before then, but it was in the decades of the 80s and 90s that they achieved-and, in some cases, surpassed-their most cherished dreams of material success.

Now, as they try to ease their work loads to enjoy the rightful fruits of their labor, they typically don't feel the sense of fulfillment they expected. Nor do they understand what is missing from their lives. True to their core beliefs, they assume subconsciously that since they don't feel what they thought they would feel or should feel, obviously they need more money. Sometimes they go at it again, even harder.

Stephen is a first-generation American from a large Asian family, whom I met when we were seated next to each other at a dinner party. Although his initial conversation consisted mostly of jokes, many of them cynical, beneath the humor I detected a serious foundation riddled by ambition. As we talked, it became clear to me he was used to success, having acquired it easily. In fact, he now expected it as his proper due. It was also obvious he had decided at an early age to attain great financial rewards. His whole family had struggled their entire lives and changing his own destiny had become an all-consuming mission.

Friendly, outgoing, attractive to look at, and immediately engaging Stephen had become an insurance salesman and excelled at it. His annual income after taxes, he proudly revealed, exceeded $200,000, which he now maintained by working only half-time. He had married late, he told me, had two young children, and bragged that their life together was going to be "perfect."

He intended to make sure his children had everything they ever needed or wanted. When I asked him whether he was worried they would become spoiled, he nonchalantly dismissed my concern and I remember thinking to myself, "He's going to give them every material thing he didn't have himself at an early age. He believes that's all he has to do to make them happy. Doesn't he see the trouble ahead?" But plainly he didn't.

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