[nine_zeros]

> The cynic, the street smart corporate bilinguist hears those two messages and understands plainly that only the latter is true.

It is true that the only message you need to follow is the one said by your own manager (and their manager). But remember, if you follow the manager's message and something fails, this manager will throw YOU under the bus.

The real street smart corporate bilinguist recognizes that blindly following your management makes you vulnerable to become the sucker, fall-guy, doesn't-really-need-promotion-guy.

If your management is dishonest, the only real game out there is a game of dishonesty.