[Dogamondo]

Hmmm, I enjoyed this article. Maybe its because it validated potential failure by being able to blame it on not coming from the 'right' background or having the opportunities the article uses as an argument for his success. Upon reflection it's a bit depressing too. After reading Steve Jobs biography the one ingredient in common between both entrepreneurs I seem to lack is that inherent harshness to call a spade a spade and not care about offending people in the process. I can't help but default to finding praise in mediocrity rather than coming down as a tyrant on anything less than perfect. Which behaviour is more outlierish, and is that a trait of the most successful in reality?

[mattsfrey]

I think people that do serious business consistently over time in the single minded pursuit of wealth just tend to be megalomaniacal assholes by nature, especially at that level. In general there are good sources to point towards lavish praise and constructive criticism as being better recipes for boosting employee productivity, so any success in that arena is probably despite their character traits, not because of them. Of course when it comes down to brass tacks and making decisions, you have to be ruthlessly objective, so these traits would be useful there.

[judk]

Even if it would be better to treat staff well, it is likely to me that abusing external partners and the law and other externalities is profit generating.