Why I Left Corporate America

November 2024

One word.  Narcissists.

One of the C-level executives where I worked casually threw out in a large email chain that he had scored in the top percentile on his SAT exam.  Of course, the company CEO was one of the email recipients.  This C-level executive was around 50 years of age, so the SAT exam was decades in his past.  Why bring it up, unless it was to show everyone how smart he was, and by inference how stupid the rest of us were? During his very first meeting with our department, he stated how much the employees at his last company loved him.  It was a cringe-worthy remark, to say the least. Saying these things does not automatically make him a narcissist, but it certainly is a narcissistic trait.  These narcissistic actions are hallmarks of executive Corporate America, where they are viewed as confidence, visionary and the ability to make tough decisions.  Unfortunately, what they really are in most cases is very convincingly blowing smoke up everyone’s tailpipe.

What’s the harm in narcissists wanting attention, if they are competent and get the job done?  Plenty.  A narcissist, or even a person with narcissistic tendencies, cannot tolerate anybody else on the team having a good idea.  More extreme narcissists might steal that good idea, but more often nobody’s ideas are accepted except their own.  Moreover, they will rarely accept anyone pointing out possible flaws or gaps in their ideas or plans.  Team members who point out things like this are often declared “difficult employees,” “problem employees,” or even as having “anger issues” (although no anger is expressed). This very effectively deflects from the flawed idea or plan by framing the person with a possibly better idea or plan as the problem.  Most team members quickly get wise to this and just keep their mouths shut, even while the narcissist propels the train of the edge of a cliff.

Another problem is that these narcissistic types, due to being so full of themselves, often self-nominate for leadership positions, crowding out the quieter, and often more qualified, team members.  Narcissists have no problem jumping many levels past their boss to ingratiate themselves with the senior leadership.  They are often in the face of their senior managers, loudly tooting their own horns, so that when the time comes to fill a leadership position, they are who the senior management knows best.  Senior leadership very rarely, if ever, effectively gets down into the trenches to see what is really going on, so they are easily snowed by the narcissist.  Why not go with the confident, charming person in the group?

Narcissists will also create office chaos on purpose. They do so by pushing the buttons of team members in a way that makes the other person look angry or unstable, while the narcissist remains calm. Narcissist bosses do this to some of their more talented or popular subordinates to marginalize them for easy dismissal later. Imagine a boss restricting your efforts, withholding resources, giving you vague/impossible tasks to perform and then forcing you to take the blame for failures. Any objections you might make will be deemed “anger issues” or something similar to portray you as unstable. Rest assured, they are also painting you this way to their superiors and other team members who they know are loyal and will back up the fabrications. This is how they remove anyone who dares to stand up to them in any way. Secretly creating chaos behind the scenes also has the benefit of them being the only one who remains calm and collected, further “proving” to higher leadership that they know what they are doing and can handle pressure.

So, my assertion is that whatever the narcissist brings to the table in terms of competence, confidence and drive – it is usually eclipsed by the damage done to both the team and business efforts from unwillingness to consider other’s ideas or be a team player.  Even the most competent person is not right 100% of the time, and the narcissist’s extreme hubris makes for a lethal formula to very aggressively push through bad ideas.  Nobody is going to stop them if they are the boss, and they usually become the boss at some point. Moreover, they usually have the full support of those above them.

I am thankful to be in a position not to depend on corporate money anymore, thereby not having to dance to the tune of these corporate narcissists. I wish those of you still trapped there only success … in escaping.

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Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Officially defined as policies and programs that promote the representation and participation of different groups of individuals. Except it doesn't include white men. It specifically excludes them while silencing them by calling them racist or misogynists if they object. It organizes traits of the rest of the people according to a notional victim status, with those higher up in the hierarchy gaining privilege at the expense of those below. Grifters calling themselves DEI experts and consultants have extracted millions of dollars from business and government offices promoting this divisive traitism. Reducing social cohesion makes people easier to control. Working in a diverse setting increases, rather than decreases, the breakdown of social trust, even within the same socio-economic class.

Men Going Their Own Way. A general philosophy (not a movement) of men focusing on themselves, rather than playing the rigged Western game of engaging with women and losing their assets and children to them through a legal system biased against men. As with all philosophies, there are some elements that are more radical.

Judging, elevating or favorably treating others by physical characteristics, or traits. Replaces racism due to the fact that there is only one race, human.

The overriding view that women are strong and independent, don’t need men, and are more competent and wiser than men. Men are to realize and admit that they are both inferior and toxic.

Giving too much attention and affection, whether through gifts, compliments, or acts of service as a way of seeking validation from someone else.

Instead of accepting responsibility and facing the uncomfortable situation head-on, the deflectors will try to move the focus from themselves, usually by passing the blame onto someone or something else.

Individuals are confronted with two choices, both of which have negative results. The choices are framed to produce an emotional response in the person, forcing them to choose or look bad. The individual will fail, no matter what choice they make. The abuser will use this as leverage to further manipulate the victim by depicting them as weak, flawed or ineffective.

The manipulative process by which individual or collective freedom of choice and action is compromised by agents or agencies that modify or distort perception, motivation, affect, cognition and/or behavioral outcomes. The person being mind controlled is not aware of the influence process, nor of the changes occurring within themselves. They believe they are acting according to their own choices.

A declaration of an intention or determination to inflict punishment, injury, etc. to frighten and emotionally force a person to do something.

The intentional manipulation of another person’s emotions to induce feelings of guilt. It is a form of emotional blackmail that is often designed to manipulate other people by preying on their emotions and making them feel responsible for something they are not.

Using sarcasm and put-downs to increase fear and self-doubt in the victim. Manipulators use this tactic to make others feel unworthy and therefore defer to them. Manipulators can make one feel ashamed for even daring to challenge them or say no.

Attempting to establish a perceived close bond with someone very quickly to overcome their natural caution and use them for money, resources or work. This is often involves a quick push for friendship or intimacy.

A manipulative tactic where someone portrays themselves as a victim to gain sympathy, attention, or caregiving. The goal is to make the person eliciting pity seem like a victim, which can make it easier to get what they want without being seen as a bad guy. This is because people are naturally inclined to help those they pity.

A woman is simultaneously a victim and empowered, until something happens. Then she chooses which state benefits her the most.

A woman is simultaneously a victim and empowered, until something happens. Then she chooses which state benefits her the most.

A Chad is a stereotypical alpha male. He is depicted as attractive, successful, muscular, cocky and very popular among women. He has a tendency to play the field and will not commit to any woman.

An enabler of a highly narcissistic person or someone with narcissistic personality disorder (NPD). A flying monkey is an agent who acts on their behalf.

Projection involves taking an unacceptable part of oneself, disowning it, and placing it onto someone else. The manipulator describes the victim and paints them in a light that more accurately portrays the attacker himself.

Toxic amnesia is a tactic where the perpetrator pretends to not remember abuse, betrayals, lies, and other hurtful and dysfunctional behaviors they've engaged in. Its a form of gaslighting. Its purpose is to make you doubt your perceptions and memories.

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The action or practice of lavishing someone with attention or affection, especially in order to influence or manipulate them.

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Fraud that targets people belonging to a particular community or group, typically that in which someone pretends to be a member of the group in order to gain the trust of others.

Second Attack
Second Attack
First Attack
First Attack
Initial Dispositions
Initial Dispositions
ZSU 23-4
ZSU 23-4 Anti-Aircraft Gun
TOW Missile
TOW Anti-Tank Missile
T55 Tank
T55 Tank
SA7
SA7 Surface to Air Missile
M113
M113 Armored Personnel Carrier (APC)
M48 Tank
M48 Tank
Hawker Hunter
Hawker Hunter Jet
BTR-50
BTR-50 Armored Personnel Carrier
BM21 Stalin Organ
BM21 Stalin Organ
Howitzer
Howitzer
AT7 Anti-Tank Missile
AT7 Anti-Tank Missile
AT3 Sagger Anti-Tank Missile
AT3 Sagger Anti-Tank Missile
120mm Mortar
120mm Mortar
AT4 Anti-Tank Missile
AT4 Anti-Tank Missile

Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.

A religious leader uses valid verses or concepts from the Bible about following and obeying God to generate enthusiasm in people, then misdirects that obedience to himself as a representative of God. The group believes they are following and obeying God, but in reality are obeying the leader.

A fictional, exaggerated version of an opposing viewpoint, especially one that is intentionally created to be easy to dismiss or argue against and to make one's own argument seem stronger. Straw man arguments can be made unintentionally, but most are made on purpose to make the other side seem evil, incompetent, or extremist.

The religious leader distracts members from mentally registering what he is doing.  Screaming praise to God when something he proclaimed does not come to pass.  Acting like a bad thing is really a good thing.  Just keep talking and talking and talking, while ignoring that nothing is happening. It is the same thing politicians have done successfully for years.

The leader calls members flattering adjectives or nouns, like righteous, holy, or saint.  These are often vague and difficult to define, so the member feels the leader’s superior knowledge has recognized something good in them.  Conversely, if the leader later withdraws this praise, the member is eager to toe the line to recover it.

Manipulation of a person or group's emotions in order to make them believe something is factual (or false) in the absence of any evidence. The manipulator tries to draw on the recipient's inward feelings such as fear, pity, or joy with the goal of convincing them that the statements being presented are true or false.

Essentially a black-and-white worldview with the leader as the ultimate moral arbiter. This creates an atmosphere of guilt and shame, where punishment and humiliation are expected. It also sets up an environment wherein members spy and report on one another. Through submission to the guilt-inducing and impossible demand for purity, members lose their moral bearing.

The use of jargon internal to (and only understandable by) the group. Constricting language constricts the person. Capacities for thinking and feeling are significantly reduced. Imagination is no longer a part of life experiences, and the mind atrophies from disuse.

The process whereby the group becomes the ultimate arbiter and all nonbelievers become so-called evil or non-people. If these non-people cannot be recruited, then they can be punished or even killed. This process creates an us-versus-them mentality that breeds fear in followers who learn that life depends on a willingness to obey. This is when individuals merge with the group’s belief.