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It's a nice attitude to have in a perfect world but what about this one? In many contexts, especially where there is high noise to signal, people will tend to b
by HSO 16y ago
It's a nice attitude to have in a perfect world but what about this one? In many contexts, especially where there is high noise to signal, people will tend to believe/bet on/buy/hire/have sex with the guy who seems so (possibly over-) confident and makes lots of (possibly empty) promises over the guy who is humble and annoyingly realistic. I can't remember which firm but the leader of a cosmetics firm once said "we don't sell lipstick. we sell hope." I think that's true for lots of social interactions. So this attitude is better to have as a hat one can take on or off, depending on the situation. If you're alone or dealing with knowledgable people, yes, wear your humble hat. If you're selling something or yourself, wear the other one. Just to be clear, I don't like it how it is. But at the moment, being intentionally misleading sometimes, even to the point of eating your own BS, is a valid strategy for worldly success if that is what you seek.
EDIT: Just to be clear, what I mean by "intentionally misleading" is more like hyperbole than like lying. Steve Jobs claiming the "best phone in the world" is hyperbole. Bernie Madoff claiming the "smoothest returns in the world" is lying.
- MicahWedemeyer 16y agoThis is actually a very good point. Know when to be bold and confident, and know when to keep your mouth shut. I've actually found a good heuristic to know when to do which. If I'm uncomfortable and insecure, it's time to be bold. And if I'm sure I'm right and the other guy's wrong, it's probably time to shut up and listen. It basically comes down to doing the opposite of my emotional response. It's not easy, but when I follow that guideline, things tend to work out better.
- YonghoShin 16y agoWhen others are fearful, be greedy. When others are greedy, be fearful. - Warren Buffett
- pbhjpbhj 16y agoCharles Revson - "in our advertising we sell hope", http://quotationsbook.com/quote/5212/ http://quotationsbook.com/quote/5212/.
- mortuus 16y agothanks for sharing that, it helped to find this name origin: "Revlon was founded in the midst of the Great Depression, 1932, by Charles Revson and his brother Joseph, along with a chemist, Charles Lachman, who contributed the "L" in the REVLON name." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revlon http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revlon
- amalcon 16y agoI've been doing this for years. The trick is to assume you're below average, but never let on. edit: and yes, I see the irony there.
- ecaradec 16y agohttp://headrush.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/2007/04/06/glibwin.jpg http://headrush.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/2007/04/06/... (from kathy sierra blog )
- ctingom 16y agoThat's why people buy lottery tickets, too. Hope.