Chapter 5
Working Without Attachment

This chapter reveals a fundamental pattern: the more desperately we chase outcomes, the more likely we are to underperform and suffer. Krishna identifies what we might call the Achievement Trap—when our self-worth becomes tied to results we can't fully control, we create our own misery. The mechanism works like this: when we're emotionally invested in specific outcomes, we tighten up. We second-guess ourselves, we get distracted by what others think, we waste energy on anxiety instead of focusing on the task. Ironically, this desperation often prevents us from doing our best work. Meanwhile, the person who shows up, does excellent work, but stays emotionally detached from the results often performs better because they're not carrying the weight of their entire identity into every task. You see this everywhere today. The nurse who's so worried about patient satisfaction scores that she becomes anxious and makes mistakes. The factory worker who's so focused on avoiding layoffs that he can't concentrate on quality. The parent who's so invested in their child getting into the 'right' school that they create family stress. The retail worker who ties their self-worth to customer reviews and becomes defensive instead of helpful. In each case, the very desperation to succeed becomes the obstacle to success. The navigation framework is straightforward: separate your effort from your attachment to outcomes. Give your absolute best to the work itself—show up on time, follow procedures, treat people well, continuously improve your skills. But recognize that promotions, recognition, and perfect results aren't entirely up to you. Your job is to control what you can control: your effort, your attitude, your integrity. When you master this separation, you become what Krishna calls 'unshakeable'—someone who performs well under pressure because their peace doesn't depend on external validation. When you can name this pattern—the Achievement Trap—predict where desperate attachment leads, and navigate it by focusing on effort over outcome, that's amplified intelligence. You've learned to work excellently without working anxiously.