3 ms·

Reminds me of that recent article that the best way to identify a narcissist is to just ask them (true narcissists will readily admit it). That line in Patton

by dpweb 11y ago

Reminds me of that recent article that the best way to identify a narcissist is to just ask them (true narcissists will readily admit it). That line in Patton (probably my favorite movie) where he says "Hell, I know I'm a prima donna. I admit it." Still does not pay to be an asshole though. If you want to call them assholes - I believe Jobs and Patton would have been just as successful if they had not been. But their legacies are (maybe forever) tarnished because of it. Patton could have just as easily not gotten the chance to stage his magnificent campaign across Europe - just because of an "asshole" move. It wasn't worth it. Proves that people do still care about how others are treated.

WalterSear 11y ago
> I believe Jobs and Patton would have been just as successful if they had not been. But their legacies are (maybe forever) tarnished because of it. Except the research doesn't support this opinion.
- marcus_holmes 11y ago
  well according to the article it does; both "givers" and "assholes" have a u-shaped distribution curve: they tend to do either very well or very badly. Jobs and Patton could have been givers with the same results, or even better. And the article even points out that Jobs had significantly reduced his asshole tendencies during the more successful part of his career. "Being nice" doesn't get you anywhere, but that's not the same as being a giver.
- curiously 11y ago
  what research? there's hardly anything in the article to suggest that it exceeds the quality of a 2AM red bull fueld college paper written by a student.
sliverstorm 11y ago
I think it's funny we think we can pick-and-choose. "If only Patton had been just as great but less of an asshole". What if that was an important part of making him the great leader he was? Traditionally negative traits can sometimes contribute to effective leadership. the slapping incidents were an example to Eisenhower, Marshall, and other leaders of Patton's brashness and impulsiveness His most successful and famous campaigns can be described as brash and impulsive!

by dpweb 11y ago

WalterSear 11y ago

> I believe Jobs and Patton would have been just as successful if they had not been. But their legacies are (maybe forever) tarnished because of it. Except the research doesn't support this opinion.

marcus_holmes 11y ago
well according to the article it does; both "givers" and "assholes" have a u-shaped distribution curve: they tend to do either very well or very badly. Jobs and Patton could have been givers with the same results, or even better. And the article even points out that Jobs had significantly reduced his asshole tendencies during the more successful part of his career. "Being nice" doesn't get you anywhere, but that's not the same as being a giver.
curiously 11y ago
what research? there's hardly anything in the article to suggest that it exceeds the quality of a 2AM red bull fueld college paper written by a student.

sliverstorm 11y ago

I think it's funny we think we can pick-and-choose. "If only Patton had been just as great but less of an asshole". What if that was an important part of making him the great leader he was? Traditionally negative traits can sometimes contribute to effective leadership. the slapping incidents were an example to Eisenhower, Marshall, and other leaders of Patton's brashness and impulsiveness His most successful and famous campaigns can be described as brash and impulsive!