This is taken from Seth Godin's Blog:The selfish cynic
Cynics are hard to disappoint.
Because they imagine the worst in people and situations, reality rarely lets them down.
Cynicism is a way to rehearse the let-downs the world has in store--before they arrive.
And the cynic chooses this attitude at the expense of the group. Because he can't bear to be disappointed, he shares his rehearsed disappointment with the rest of us, slowing down projects, betting on lousy outcomes and dampening enthusiasm.
Someone betting on the worst outcomes is going to be correct now and then, but that doesn't mean we need to have him on our team. I'd rather work with people brave enough to embrace possible futures at the expense of being disappointed now and then.
Don't expect kudos or respect for being a cynic. It's selfish.
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But I am amazed how many people seem to "get employed" to be the company cynic.
And even more people start a business with the same outlook!
Especially when it comes to technology and marketing.
The amount of small business owners who still tell me social media marketing doesn't work and wouldn't work for their business is disappointingly high in this country. Maybe it's this cynical mindset?
Because they imagine the worst in people and situations, reality rarely lets them down.
Cynicism is a way to rehearse the let-downs the world has in store--before they arrive.
And the cynic chooses this attitude at the expense of the group. Because he can't bear to be disappointed, he shares his rehearsed disappointment with the rest of us, slowing down projects, betting on lousy outcomes and dampening enthusiasm.
Someone betting on the worst outcomes is going to be correct now and then, but that doesn't mean we need to have him on our team. I'd rather work with people brave enough to embrace possible futures at the expense of being disappointed now and then.
Don't expect kudos or respect for being a cynic. It's selfish.
---------
But I am amazed how many people seem to "get employed" to be the company cynic.
And even more people start a business with the same outlook!
Especially when it comes to technology and marketing.
The amount of small business owners who still tell me social media marketing doesn't work and wouldn't work for their business is disappointingly high in this country. Maybe it's this cynical mindset?
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