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Why do some people think they are the shit, when in fact they are someone’s bitch? I understand that confidence can lead to success, but that doesn’t mean you should let your ego get in the way. When you let your ego get in the way, you start feeling invincible and better than everyone else, when the reality is you are no better than the person standing next to you.
For example Donald Trump acts cocky because he is famous and wealthy. Even though he has millions of dollars if not billions, he is still someone’s bitch. He didn’t get to where he is today by himself, he got investment money from a lot of wealthy people. Because of this he has to do what they say, which makes him a bitch just like you and I.
If you want to take it to an extreme case, even President Bush is a bitch. Not only is he the bitch of each individual who gave him campaign money, but he is also our bitch. Every time he does something dumb, he has to answer to us. No matter how powerful, wealthy, famous, or smart you are, you still have to answer to someone.
Now the purpose of this blog post isn’t to pick on you, but it is to help you realize that you have to control your ego. I know this can be hard to do and even I have let my ego get in the way. Just a few days ago I was at a startup’s office and I accidentally let my ego get in the way. I didn’t realize what I was doing until my friend pointed it out, but I should have been more considerate to others.
All I am trying to say is don’t let your ego get in your way because no matter who you are, you are still someone’s bitch.
“When you let your ego get in the way, you start feeling invisible and better than everyone else, when the reality is you are no better than the person standing next to you.”
Perhaps it would be good if this sentence were true rather than just being a typo (invisible != invincible. The more your ego controls you, the harder it would be for people to see you. Typos aside, wise words from someone who sounds like they just ate humble pie.
Thanks for pointing out the typo.
Neil, you nailed it with this post. I think the main point you were trying to explain is “in order to succeed you need the support of others.” In your terms this means to “be someone’s bitch” and it is just another way of putting it. I look at networking differently. I like setting up “win win’s” and mutual relationships.
You must be a psychic because you kind of predicted my next post.
Definitely true. It’s important to know your position. If you want to be a teacher, then you should teach. But don’t get it in your head that you know everything. Even teachers learn from their students once in a while
Totally true. Some of the best teachers I had in college tried to learn from the students. Letting things go to your head just puts up a road blocks.
Life is a learning process, people never stop learning, you should always try to learn from people around you! Well said Neil, I totally agree with the post, my friend
Thanks! When people stop learning, it is a good sign that their career maybe headed on downward trend.
An awesome post as always!
I think you just made me realize how cocky I’ve been the last few weeks… *ashamed*
I’ve been so wrapped up with myself and my new job as Project Manager that I didn’t take a moment to realize that at one point I too was in their shoes… learning the ropes to become who I am today.
A whole-hearted thank you for the wake-up call.
(Btw, I did a few of those modifications you suggested on my blog. Please do drop by and let me know if there is anything else I could improve on…)
Your blog looks good, but here are a few things I would change:
1. Add threaded comments, it will help increase your comment count.
2. Add top commentors in your sidebar. This also helps increase reader interaction.
3. Create an about page.
4. I would also create a tagline if you don’t have one. If the word “technologies” is your tagline, consider making a more descriptive one.
Thanks bitch!
Seriously, the article title was very eye catching. But these four blogging tips are really awesome. Also, I think we should expand on the idea of “we are all slaves”. Seems so unnatural to work for someone. Corporations as we know them are changing, they are living much shorter life spans. Entrepreneurism is back with a vengeance baby!
I don’t think corporations will change anytime soon. New ones may, but the old ones like GM will probably stay the same for the next 5 to 10 years.
Great post, thanks!
But I feel this is easy to explain and very difficult to realize.
I totally agree. It was much easier for me to write the post compared to realize what I did during the week.
Not sure how to make it easy to realize, but I was hoping the post may help a bit.
I would say if you are able to change even a single mind, attitude and behavior with this post, you are good.
Thanks! Luckily, I think I accomplished that.
Neil,
I like your blog and think you have some interesting things to say about entrepreneurship and what you are saying makes an immense amount of sense for 99.5% of the population, but in this specific case, you are wrong.
If you consider a business from a slightly different perspective, maybe you’ll appreciate why I say this, even if you don’t agree with me.
The modern corporation came into being in Britain in the early seventeenth century, when some very intelligent and presumably humble nobleman noticed that there’s no correlation between intelligence and wealth. In fact, there may even be an inverse correlation, but I’ll resist the urge to rant about Paris Hilton and spare you my other Hilton-esque urges…
What these noblemen realized was that if they gave up a portion of their capital and entrusted it to an organized group of intelligent, motivated and hungry workers selected from the masses, they could make themselves much wealthier. The modern corporation was born.
Now, this brings us to the case of Donald Trump. Trump’s father was a successful real estate developer in NYC and Trump got his money the old fashioned way, he inherited it. He’s actually an interesting example of someone who has capital, intelligence, motivation and business savvy.
Now, he does have a board of directors (of which he is the Chairman and he selected and pays) and he does have bankers, but Paris Hilton is closer to joining the Mensa Society than Donald Trump is to being their bitch.
I agree with your general idea, though I wouldn’t not have chosen term you seem to relish and Donald Trump is not a good example (nor would Bill Gates, Ted Turner, Warren Buffett or many other well known executives who benefited greatly from their birth canal’s. Larry Ellison would be a fascinating counter-balance to this, as he was born poor, but if you wish to see your next birthday, I wouldn’t suggest saying that he’s someones…)
Andy
Appreciate the input. I thought many of these guys took venture capital early on, but I could be wrong.
Although I don’t agree with your input 100%, I appreciate your advice.
hahaha! what’s up Andy? Long time no see! Interesting to see you posting here. If you look up the textbook definition of what managers of a corporation do, it’s to “maximize shareholders wealth”, in any company in which there are other members who hold shares besides the founder, they are going to have to take orders from the people who have controlling interest. For example, when companies take on outside capital, the founder has to anwser to the board of directors, thus making him the “bitch” to the people who own the company, wouldn’t you agree?
Not only that, but wouldn’t you also be the bitch of all your customers? For example if you are Donald Trump and sell condos, then each tenant could potentially be your pimp. Or if you are Bill Gates, each Windows users could also be your pimp. Sounds kind of weird, but hope it makes sense.
Neil,
good points, sometimes we are so wrapped up in ourselves and the high goals we have set, that we don’t realize how ego can effect you in your business and personal life. In general to be truly successful in life and business it is a team game, so yeah, your going to have to anwser to people and people will have to anwser to you, no matter how powerful you are, thats the way the cookie crumbles.
Yep. Sadly I don’t think anyone can avoid being a bitch.
No doubt the ego can cause serious problems for business owners. I happened to work for two guys who ran a web development / internet marketing agency. What they neglected to recognize was that every single employee had something to show them. Their attitude was, “we run the show, we’re unsurpassed in our knowledge, so we don’t need to learn from anybody.” They were wrong - dead wrong. The web went on changing, and they went on doing what they’ve been doing for the last ten years. And they are now not doing so well because they failed to stay ahead of the curve.
Being humble keeps you open to learn from others - about the field you’re working in, about what’s right/wrong about your operation and what mistakes you yourself are marking. Be too proud to learn, and watch how quickly you fall behind the curve - and completely off the chart.
If they had just listened, they would still be successful. As Deep stated, it is just how the cookie crumbles. I wish people would listen because it is in their own benefit.
In the words of the infamous Biggie Smalls, “Treat everyday like an intern”. The hungrier you are (no matter how much you accomplish) the more successful and humble people will see you.
As usual great post. You have some good stuff in that brain of yours!
I get what you are saying, but not sure if treating people like interns works forever. If they have earned respect then you have to give it, or you may not get it back. By treating others like iterns it is like treating them as your bitch.
No, I think that WE should treat everyday like an intern…you know keep that hunger and fire to be successful. This post actually encouraged to blog about learning the way interns act. Although interns are the most “bitch-like” in any workplace, they have one resounding quality, the motivation to succeed.
Good point. At any work place they are usually the ones that work hard because they have something to prove and are motivated.
This is probably the reason why TechCrunch is so successful. Michael treats many of his employees as “interns”, which is why they work hard and are motivated.
So, the question is, Who is your bitch? and Who are you a bitch to Neil? BTW, this lesson contradicts your rule #1 for being a better sales person (”Walk in with your dick hanging out”)
LOL, I like how you called me out. Sales is probably one of the few times when you need to walk into a room with your dick hanging out. When you aren’t doing sales, you should be humble.
As for who is my bitch… I have no clue. As for who I am a bitch to, I would probably say Hiten Shah. Hiten is my business partner and has taught me a lot. I still go to him for advice these days.
So were all bitches. Sweet. Today seemed so much more promising when i woke up.
Sadly we are and it is something that we all have to learn to live with.
In the ancient culture of Sumer, a slave was defined as someone who worked for someone else. Which today in America is pretty much everyone. Lame.
I guess we are all slaves then.
I do get what you are saying though. Sadly, back then salves maybe considered the owners “bitch”. Today workers are also consider “bitches”, but in today’s society we can’t call them that in the work place.
No matter who you are in the United States you will always be a bitch to the government because you are going to have to pay them at least 20 percent. No matter how much money you make you are more than likely going to have to pay it up to someone or have to rely on someone to make your money.
hahaha, that is a good point, we’re all bitches to government, especially the IRS, they’re the ultimate pimp.
Got to love the IRS. No matter how big you are, they can make you piss in your pants.
Yeah. being an employee, one who left the ego can think about success in the career, otherwise one will nearly loss his position and success what he has gained during time spent in company…
Yep, an ego in the corporate world is a good way to lose everything you earned. If you ever have an ego or attitude problem towards the CEO of a large company, you can expect to be in trouble.
is that not the truth … example … we are your bitches because we come to the site to read what you have to say … and your our bitch … because you keep writing for us to keep coming back!
BITCH!
LOL
Darin
ROFL. I guess I am your bitch.
The reason why we all have someone to answer to, is because it is lonely at the top. LOL
I think it is the opposite. You have tons of people at the top that are looking over you, such as board of directors.
Yep I think especially right now in the United States due to the policies of George Bush there are fewer on top with more power with many more under them. That is the way of life since as far back as history goes, there is always someone on top and someone below them, its animal nature, look at wolves, lions, etc.
Exactly! If there were not checks and balances in place, the world would be a lot more messed up.
Someone’s bitch. LOL!! Interesting. I heard of that articles before but neverless it really brings the frank topics up. Very true indeed. Glad this post brings memories back. Yes even elder people still have to learn. Life’s theory is an experience where we do make mistake sometimes. Even expert makes mistake. We are learning everyday. No matter how intelligent you are. We all have to keep growing and change with trends. That is the theory of life. Being cocky like Donald Trump is great but don’t let that thing go to your head everytime. Sometimes in life we have to be “HUMBLE”.
I think being humble is one of the most important things for you to be in life. The most successful people I know don’t show off or treat others differently, instead they are humble and blend right in.
It sure is the case that most individuals should control their thinking, because no one enjoys the presence of someone that feels like they are above them. It can make communication quite difficult.
Yea, I don’t know anyone that likes being treated like a “bitch”. No one should ever be treated as one.