The Losers can be conscious of their position and understand the value going both ways, which I don’t think is so bad. On the other hand, the poor Clueless putting more into the company than they’ll ever get out of it… tough. Lastly, I really liked the bolded portion on Sociopaths: “They never lower their masks. In fact they are their masks. There is nothing beneath”. I often find myself wondering to what extent this is true for some people I know. It’s interesting to think about just how different people’s mentalities / ways of thinking can be, even people from seemingly similar backgrounds (something I really started thinking about when I got to college)
The diagram of the triangle reminds me of a comment I read decades ago, made by the CEO of a multinational corporation, the name of which I have forgotten.
The comment was that, as he arose in the organizational pyramid, the pressures from above never seemed to diminish. Finally he reached the top of the pyramid; but instead of the pressure ceasing, it seemed as if the pyramid had turned upside down and the entire weight of the pyramid was on him.
So perhaps dedicated 'losers' can make it to the top, but it is an arduous path with no rest at the top. Good if the climbing itself is enjoyable.
James Nicholas that’s a wise observation. In most organizations in my experience, the pressure never goes away. The capital employed in the business must always earn its returns, and the business must grow, else the stock will become out of favor and the owners will be unhappy. Each new year brings a round of budgeting for ever higher growth and profitability.
The gist is that for many a way to move up is first to move laterally.
It is interesting that those who benefit the least from moving laterally are those who have the highest level of education. Maybe because there are fewer spaces laterally that can use that high level of specialization.
Love Venkatesh Rao - this is one of my all time fave internet essays: https://www.ribbonfarm.com/2017/08/17/the-premium-mediocre-life-of-maya-millennial/
Ha! I'd heard this term but didn't realize he coined it. It is such a perfect term. Do you read Jia Tolentino? It reminds me of this piece which was big around the same time https://www.theguardian.com/news/2019/aug/02/athleisure-barre-kale-tyranny-ideal-woman-labour
Have you read Class by Paul Fussell? Suspect you’d enjoy it.
I haven’t! This looks very cool though I will check it out
The Losers can be conscious of their position and understand the value going both ways, which I don’t think is so bad. On the other hand, the poor Clueless putting more into the company than they’ll ever get out of it… tough. Lastly, I really liked the bolded portion on Sociopaths: “They never lower their masks. In fact they are their masks. There is nothing beneath”. I often find myself wondering to what extent this is true for some people I know. It’s interesting to think about just how different people’s mentalities / ways of thinking can be, even people from seemingly similar backgrounds (something I really started thinking about when I got to college)
The diagram of the triangle reminds me of a comment I read decades ago, made by the CEO of a multinational corporation, the name of which I have forgotten.
The comment was that, as he arose in the organizational pyramid, the pressures from above never seemed to diminish. Finally he reached the top of the pyramid; but instead of the pressure ceasing, it seemed as if the pyramid had turned upside down and the entire weight of the pyramid was on him.
So perhaps dedicated 'losers' can make it to the top, but it is an arduous path with no rest at the top. Good if the climbing itself is enjoyable.
James Nicholas that’s a wise observation. In most organizations in my experience, the pressure never goes away. The capital employed in the business must always earn its returns, and the business must grow, else the stock will become out of favor and the owners will be unhappy. Each new year brings a round of budgeting for ever higher growth and profitability.
That certainly seems to be the case to me! "a pie-eating contest where the prize is more pie" is a concise way I've heard it described
Tangentially related:
I saw a reference in the Economist to this article:
https://academic.oup.com/jleo/article-abstract/36/1/1/5555463
The gist is that for many a way to move up is first to move laterally.
It is interesting that those who benefit the least from moving laterally are those who have the highest level of education. Maybe because there are fewer spaces laterally that can use that high level of specialization.