Succesful yet Self Destructive?

Question

Why do some people succeed in spite of their attempts to sabotage their lives?
Examples, please.

Answer 1

I don't think those people want to sabotage themselves, but rather make it harder on themselves.
Some people just can't avoid challenging themselves, so they might procrastinate until the last seconds, attempt to take on too many responsabilities, prove to be not cooperative, but in the end they do want to achieve the goal.
Because these people have such drive in them, sometimes the only way they can work is if they challenge themselves enough... and people with that kind of drive are not uncommon amongst successful people.