I’m definitely a loser…and an idiot
The Gervais Principle (via Kottke) is an amazing analysis of corporate culture. Basically, it breaks down the hierarchy into three categories:
- The Sociopaths – Type A personalities who are driven to success with sheer force
- The Clueless – Those who drank the punch and are devoted to the organization to the delusion.
- The Losers - Those who refuse to drink the punch but who have have compromised in order to get a paycheck and a false sense of security.
I would classify myself as the over-performing loser which makes me an idiot too.
“…if you over-perform at the loser level, it is clear that you are an idiot. You’ve already made a bad bargain, and now you’re delivering more value than you need to, making your bargain even worse.”