[ryandvm]

I don't know. I suppose it depends on what we're optimizing for, but from what I've observed, the most underrated skill is bullshitting.

I have seen countless engineers just while away the years modestly building and documenting incredible systems. Systems that "just work" for years on end. They never get fired because they're recognized for their value, but they also never get to the top.

Bullshitters, on the other hand, have no ceiling. They are never out of their depth because they transcend skill or accountability. They'll tell you they know everything, they'll tell you nothing is impossible, they'll gossip and disparage everyone else. The best bullshitters are full-on psychopaths and these are the guys that run the world.