Why Crazy Works | The New Normal
Illustrations by Jason Schneider for Fortune Magazine
Original Content from Fortune.com
What you see is not always what you get in the Top positions of power, even thought they try really hard to cultivate the image. Calm, composed, well dressed and well mannered. They fill the pages of everything from business magazines to bookshelves. We are bombarded with the image of the executive only to be shocked when we can’t seem to believe the fall from grace. Over the past decade its not hard to think that crazy has become the new normal.
To the contrary of popular beliefs, the C-Suite Executive Level is filled with people that are considered bullies, narcissists, paranoid, obnoxious pricks. We at EyeRecruit, Inc. have known more than a few. If you haven’t heard of some of the outrageous ways Senior Executives and members of the United Stated Government are spending, acting, talking, lying, cheating, and deceiving everyone around them, you’re not looking hard enough. Its not just about mishandling funds or acting like a crybaby, Crazy has become the new normal and for all intensive purposes, it seems to be systemic and no longer reserving itself to the very top of the hierarchical pyramid.
That’s only the beginning. Behind the current leadership is a legion of talented junior executives who are watching, listening, learning and emulating, so when the time comes for them to rip the reins from the not yet cold dead hands of their predecessor, they can reach their Gordon Gecko style dreams. From the outside looking in, the well-manicured executive, man or woman, eludes confidence, class and professionalism. Many are the selected, elected, or self made who and leading the charge in their corporate army in search of profits, fame and… well sadly today, that is about it. Talented executives for sure, to often misguided without a doubt. But have we not seen great leaders of the past accomplish great things for our country, our society, our progress as a species and our planet?
True wealth, as it is said, is not what you have; it’s what you’re left with when everything you have is gone.
Cunning, worldly, sophisticated, intelligent, masterful, opinionated, well traveled, well educated and daring as they may be, most if not all will be forgotten in the dust of the next media spectacle. Truth be told, they are no different than the Barron’s of Empires past, only society now has immediate access to their follies, paranoid delusions, shameful actions, deceptive maneuvering, illicit and sometimes illegal activities and eventual implosion. Where we have progressed to would lead many to believe that Crazy has become the new normal.
For to many of our generation believed the lyrics from Rock of Ages (remember that hair band Def Leopard?), it seems like it’s better to burn out than fade away. But the good news is that there are many leader are coming up who were laying in the weeds as my old football coach was fond of saying, and they will be more powerful, more influential, more connected, more transparent and more wealthy than the people in power we see today. The difference is how they will use their position to effect positive change.
Follow me, I plan on being one of them….
