"But is it really the personality defects which make these people successful? Or is it more the case that one of the privileges of success is that repercussions melt away and people are liberated to be their worst selves?"
Mostly the latter. While it's impossible to Do All Good Things at once, and focusing on one's own particular "genius"…
"But is it really the personality defects which make these people successful? Or is it more the case that one of the privileges of success is that repercussions melt away and people are liberated to be their worst selves?"
Mostly the latter. While it's impossible to Do All Good Things at once, and focusing on one's own particular "genius" can mean letting other duties slide, the neglect of other duties isn't positive abuse of others.
If you and your "genius" render yourself "indispensable" enough, others will put up with a lot from you before deciding they've had enough. Since people know this, one way to signal that you're "indispensable" (even if you aren't) is to be a massive jerk. The more those around you (especially those in charge) buy into the "nice guys can't be geniuses" myth, the more likely this con is to work. Sometimes the success of this con outlasts the lifetime of the conman.
How many aspiring whatevers have been advised that being perceived as successful is half the battle, so you should look like you're successful even when you aren't yet? Cultivating jerkitude in order to appear like someone successful enough to afford abusing others is part of this whole game, though not a necessary part. But it really works on some people.
The one person I know with extensive experience inside Hollywood says this con is endemic there. And I've witnessed firsthand its occurrence in conservative media.
"But is it really the personality defects which make these people successful? Or is it more the case that one of the privileges of success is that repercussions melt away and people are liberated to be their worst selves?"
Mostly the latter. While it's impossible to Do All Good Things at once, and focusing on one's own particular "genius" can mean letting other duties slide, the neglect of other duties isn't positive abuse of others.
If you and your "genius" render yourself "indispensable" enough, others will put up with a lot from you before deciding they've had enough. Since people know this, one way to signal that you're "indispensable" (even if you aren't) is to be a massive jerk. The more those around you (especially those in charge) buy into the "nice guys can't be geniuses" myth, the more likely this con is to work. Sometimes the success of this con outlasts the lifetime of the conman.
How many aspiring whatevers have been advised that being perceived as successful is half the battle, so you should look like you're successful even when you aren't yet? Cultivating jerkitude in order to appear like someone successful enough to afford abusing others is part of this whole game, though not a necessary part. But it really works on some people.
The one person I know with extensive experience inside Hollywood says this con is endemic there. And I've witnessed firsthand its occurrence in conservative media.