This article draws on the Gervais Principle by Venkatesh Rao, a look into how corporate offices work. This post will make more sense to you if you have read it already. Rao’s article is much more in depth (and much better) than mine. This post is an application of his model to political movements.
I feel like this gets at something true, but is also outrageously cynical. Where's the room for people who genuinely want to seek out the truth and serve their communities? And how we support their success?
Bravo. V. Rao’s the Gervais principle hit me between the eyes because it explained so much about my corporate experience. I was clueless because I needed to believe. I would say sociopaths need to win, while losers need to belong. Losers will indeed sell out a clueless in a heartbeat if the crowd approves. This is perhaps why Rao says sociopaths pick losers to elevate but never the striving clueless.
I feel like this gets at something true, but is also outrageously cynical. Where's the room for people who genuinely want to seek out the truth and serve their communities? And how we support their success?
Bravo. V. Rao’s the Gervais principle hit me between the eyes because it explained so much about my corporate experience. I was clueless because I needed to believe. I would say sociopaths need to win, while losers need to belong. Losers will indeed sell out a clueless in a heartbeat if the crowd approves. This is perhaps why Rao says sociopaths pick losers to elevate but never the striving clueless.