First, money is almost always  the most important thing in the world to them. 

Second, they tend to be “glad handers” and cameleons; that is, they’ll shape their personalities to whatever it takes for them to be socially accepted.

Third, while not necessarily criminal in the legal sense, they tend to look out for number one; an example would be a doctor giving self dealing advice.  They tend to lack ethics.

If the above three things describe you, are you an asshole???  You decide

I appreciate you joining the discussion. I understand that “asshole” is used subjectively in your post, but the definition of asshole that you seem to raise up is what I don’t accept.

You say all these rich, successful people “are assholes” and only say once that the dozen people you know are “called assholes.” If your intention is simply to imply that you will be called an asshole by being successful, it seemed more to me that you were lifting an asshole state of mind as the road to success.

When you idolize Dr. House for his cheating and manipulating and then list off the characteristics that frequently are associated with these “assholes,” you construct a model for success that I can’t accept.

As your post said: “We hold up cases like those as ‘how not to be successful,’ but really, I think it’s exactly the opposite.”

My translation: This is how to be successful.

I know you ask the question whether people are willing to have people “think” they are assholes, but the entire post suggests that a miserly, miserable life as an “asshole” is the way to go to find success. That is what I don’t agree with or accept.

I appreciate you joining the discussion. I understand that “asshole” is used subjectively in your post, but the definition of asshole that you seem to raise up is what I don’t accept.

You say all these rich, successful people “are assholes” and only say once that the dozen people you know are “called assholes.” If your intention is simply to imply that you will be called an asshole by being successful, it seemed more to me that you were lifting an asshole state of mind as the road to success.

When you idolize Dr. House for his cheating and manipulating and then list off the characteristics that frequently are associated with these “assholes,” you construct a model for success that I can’t accept.

As your post said: “We hold up cases like those as ‘how not to be successful,’ but really, I think it’s exactly the opposite.”

My translation: This is how to be successful.

I know you ask the question whether people are willing to have people “think” they are assholes, but the entire post suggests that a miserly, miserable life as an “asshole” is the way to go to find success. That is what I don’t agree with or accept.

“Asshole” is subjective. One person can think you’re a saint and another person can think you should go straight to hell.

The point is, if you’re going to get rich, someone will inevitably think you’re an asshole. Whether or not it’s true it is another story, but you’d better prepare yourself for some people to think less of you.

Also, Steve Jobs is a renowned jerk, apparently. He covers it up at shareholder meetings for the most part, but I’ve read dozens of reports that say he’s a terror to work with. Others just call him extremely focused. Once again, it’s subjective.

The same thing goes for Bill Gates and just about every other successful person in the world. Lots of people think Bill is the devil incarnate. Others think he is the savior of the world.

In other words, you could say that successful people polarize large groups of people. If you’re not ready to be hated by some people, then you’re probably not ready for that level of success.

“Asshole” is subjective. One person can think you’re a saint and another person can think you should go straight to hell.

The point is, if you’re going to get rich, someone will inevitably think you’re an asshole. Whether or not it’s true it is another story, but you’d better prepare yourself for some people to think less of you.

Also, Steve Jobs is a renowned jerk, apparently. He covers it up at shareholder meetings for the most part, but I’ve read dozens of reports that say he’s a terror to work with. Others just call him extremely focused. Once again, it’s subjective.

The same thing goes for Bill Gates and just about every other successful person in the world. Lots of people think Bill is the devil incarnate. Others think he is the savior of the world.

In other words, you could say that successful people polarize large groups of people. If you’re not ready to be hated by some people, then you’re probably not ready for that level of success.