The Way to Wealth: Rudeness?

April 26th, 2008

I know someone in her 40s, once a beauty model and now a career woman. She prides herself on her skill set, her life’s accomplishments, her satisfaction in a job well-done. She makes well over six figures.

She’s also the most obnoxious, meanest, most selfish person I know. I get the pleasure of dealing with her regularly.

While some, more humble businesspeople would give credit to underlings, thank service workers, smile at people who have nothing to offer in return, this woman turns on charm only when it benefits her. I, if you haven’t guessed, don’t benefit her.

Sometimes I look at her and look at me and compare. $100,00+, flex hours, pride in accomplishments, people who fawn all over you. OR Hourly pay, set 9-5, constant placating, peacemaking and stroking.

I don’t believe rudeness is the way to success (or joy). But sometimes I wonder why it seems the meanest people climb the highest on the ladder?

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7 Responses to “The Way to Wealth: Rudeness?”

  1. Tim on April 26, 2008 8:31 pm

    I dont know if her success and meanness go hand in hand. I bet she has an assertive side to her, which has helped her climb the corporate ladder.

    However, just remember, no matter how mean she is, she is still a person with thoughts, feelings, and emotions. These people may not show it easily, but they can usually be broken down, the key is in finding out how to do it. However, people who are not mean would have no reason to do this, and in my mind, are better people than her because of that trait.

    Kindness goes a long way. If you are mean, selfish, and treat people badly, it will come back to haunt you in a time of need.

  2. SavingDiva on April 28, 2008 8:11 am

    My sister and I were talking about this the other day. She is completing an internship and her boss’s boss is the meanest woman ever! She rarely has to deal with this woman, but I guess she’s really awful!

  3. This Writer on April 28, 2008 7:41 pm

    So Tim, are you suggesting I break her down? LOL..if anyone ever seemed impossible to break down…

    Glad to know I’m not alone, SD. If nothing else (and I’m sure your sister would agree), it will help me know what I don’t want to be like.

  4. Writer's Coin on April 29, 2008 7:28 pm

    I think about this all the time — you see a lot of people in top positions with a lot of this kind of attitude. I don’t know that they are related but here’s one theory: A lot of these people are great at getting things done. When they need things done, they simply focus on that very thing: getting a task done, everything else be damned. That means forgetting about people’s egos, their feelings, how rudely you respond to their ideas, etc.

    Does that justify it? I wouldn’t say so, but it’s one explanation as to why you see so many rude people so high up in the food chain — it could be that direct attitude that got them there to begin with.

  5. This Writer on May 4, 2008 9:10 pm

    WC: I’ve thought a lot about your comment, and you’re probably right. I mean, what you said is very logical and makes sense.

    It also severely depresses me and makes me think there’s clearly, so obviously wrong in the world.

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