perspective and hunters and business

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hunting Mooseheads

“Until the lion learns how to write, every story will glorify the hunter.”

African proverb

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Ok.

 

 

When I say hunters I mean the people who will do whatever they feel they need to do to get what they want.

doing life destroy the world

 

We all know some of these people.

 

 

Uhm.

 

 

We all know some of these people who do not recognize that they are one of those people.

 

 

Particularly in business.

 

 

They aren’t psychopaths and they aren’t the kind of assholes that are raging assholes … these are just the assholes oblivious to their assholedness.

 

 

There are a variety of ways they justify their hunting but suffice it to say far and away the number one way is “end justifies the means.”

 

 

“But I <or we> made the numbers.”

“We won.”

“We finished.”

 

 

 

 

 

All the while ignoring the carnage left behind.

 

 

The carnage can be lost employees, pissed off employees, tired <emotionally and physically> employees, angry peers and disappointed or abused partners.

 

 

Let me explain <and what the ‘hunter’ says>.

 

 

asshole bad manager thank you asshole

<lost employees>

 

They couldn’t keep up or they were not good enough <good they are gone … we weed out those who can’t keep up>.

 

 

 

<pissed off employees>

 

You can’t always pamper people to get them across the finish line <they like me because they know it is all done with ‘tough love’>.

 

 

 

<tired employees>

 

 

I pushed them beyond what they thought they could do <they won’t be angry once they see how I helped them realize their potential>.

 

 

<peers angry>

 

 

The other managers don’t recognize what it takes to get it done <my project was more important and they won’t be angry once they see the result and how the team responded …or … I am showing them how it should be done>.

 

 

 

<partners angry>

 

 

They have good intentions but I need to keep them focused on our priorities and objectives and needs <they work for us and need us more than we need them>.

 

 

Look.

 

These are the hunters <assholes in the office> who focus on the kill. We all have them or have encountered them.

 

They unequivocally state …

 

“We came in within budget.”

 

“We finished on time.”

 

“We made the numbers <or exceeded … which is most likely what the hunters say>.”

 

 

Uhm.

 

 

At what cost?

 

 

Ok.

 

Simplistically <part 1> … these are  the bad leaders.

 

 

Simplistically <part 2> … good leaders get the story from the lions and not just the hunters.

 

 
Regardless.

 

 

Many hunters in business are simply assholes … and do not even know it because all they see is they are hunters and they have a lion to show for their efforts.

 

 

Yes.

 

Success does matter.

 

No.

 

I am not suggesting we shouldn’t value ‘the kill’ or even ‘ability to effectively stalk the prey’ in business.

 

 

Yes.

 

I do believe how you kill or stalk matters.

 

 

Now.

 

Let me discuss the ‘how you do it’ matters aspect.

 

 

Having had this conversation several times with hunter like people <assholes> in some office in some city as employees ran to & fro around us … these are the people who quote Sun Tzu and military people all the time.

 

 

They ignore honor and integrity and respect for the event and an honorable opponent and solely speak of the honor of the win and respect for the victory <or kill>.

 

 

I struggle with these people because as hunters they lose sight of the balance or bigger picture.

 

 

Seeking to win, or make the kill, with honor & integrity for the event offers such satisfaction that one who only hunts for the kill sometimes can’t seem to understand.

 

I sometimes think they fear the event and simply go for the kill thinking that honoring the event means increasing the likelihood they lose the kill or lose some success.

 

 

I admit.

 

 

This is a difficult discussion to have with hunters. All they hear is ‘inefficiency’ or even ‘being too nice’ or ‘soft’ … yet, in reality, nowhere in there is nice, or inefficient or softness … it is respect.capitalism personal gain integrity

 

Respect for the hunt itself and finding satisfaction in making the kill, gaining success, in an honorable way.

 

 

In addition.

 

 

Gaining success in an honorable way, the right way in my eyes, not only creates satisfaction for me but … you don’t lose employees <or … the ones you lose are the cold blooded hunters>, your employees are less pissed off, your employees may be physically tired but are rarely mentally tired, your peers have a tendency to look at you & your team with respect and partners want to work with you.

 

 

Sigh.

 

 

But hunters only tell their stories … and far too often are glorified in today’s business world.

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Written by Bruce