I recently read this narcissist yet insightful (albeit depressing) piece on Bloomberg that talked about how there might be a cause-and-effect relationship between being rude and being rich.
While it may not apply to a precious few, I’m sure we’ve all seen the type. Well, turns out that establishing yourself as the alpha male (or female) has a lot to do with success.
The richer you are, the less reliant you are on other people. It doesn’t matter much what others think of you, since you are unlikely to be asking them for a favor any time soon.
And yet while the rich may be rude because they are wealthy, it is just as likely to be the other way around. Just as plausibly, they are wealthy because they are rude.
Carnegie and other self-help writers have missed the point the last few decades. Getting ahead in life isn’t about making people like you. It is about getting them to serve your interests.
Success depends, more than anything, on an inner ruthlessness. As anyone who has spent much time with chief executives will know, they are mostly an unpleasant bunch.
To quote a friend, “You’re trying to be the asshole you’re not. Be the asshole you were meant to be.”