[ludicity]

Just wanted to pop in and say that I think Sean is absolutely right here. I've tried the ultra-cynical view at workplaces, and would have had better results with some "idealism", which he rightly notes in his form is just a more effectively action atop a base of clear-eyed cynicism.

However, I think we've got some tactical disagreements on how to actually make society a better place. Namely, I think Sean is right if you have to remain an employee, but many people just don't have to do that, so it feels a bit like a great guide on how to win soccer while hopping on one leg. Just use two legs!

My own experience, especially over the last year, has been telling me that being positioned as an employee at most companies means you're largely irrelevant, i.e, you should adopt new positioning (e.g, become a third-party consultant like me) or find a place that's already running nearly perfectly. I can't imagine going back to a full-time job unless I was given a CTO/CEO or board role, where I could again operate with some autonomy... and I suspect at many of the worst places, even these roles can't do much.

Also Sean, if you're reading this, we'll get coffee together before March or die trying.

[Swizec]

> I've tried the ultra-cynical view at workplaces, and would have had better results with some "idealism", which he rightly notes in his form is just a more effectively action atop a base of clear-eyed cynicism.

Cynics feel smart but optimists win.

You have to be at least a little optimistic, sometimes even naive, to achieve unlikely outcomes. Otherwise you’ll never put in enough oomph to get lucky.

[kelnos]

> Cynics feel smart but optimists win.

That's not been my experience. Optimists also tend to assume the best motivations behind the actions of others, and that will nearly always bite you in the ass in any sizeable organization.

I've been the ultra-cynic before, and agree that doesn't work either. People don't like working with you, and don't trust you.

I think we need to be realistic on order to be successful, and neither ultra-cynicism nor optimism fits the bill.

I would suggest that a healthy, reasonable amount of cynicism is a part of being realistic about how the world works.

[wombatpm]

Optimists proclaim we live in the best of all possible worlds. Pessimists fear that is true.

[gjvc]

100% agree. Cynics can be always be right about the past, but optimists are often right about the future, because they are the ones actually building it.

The negative replies to this comment are ironic.

[neal_jones]

Yea, agree with the cynics/optimists point.

Feels like cynics are right and optimists get rich.

I definitely lean more to cynic, my very good friend is def more optimist. He’s worth more than 10x me.

[danieltanfh95]

> Cynics feel smart but optimists win.

survivorship bias.

[themafia]

> but optimists win.

Win.. what?

> enough oomph to get lucky.

The underpaid cargo cult mentality is alive in well in corporate America.