Тонкое искусство пофигизма

           Yettheguykeptthisupforyears,livingoffgirlfriendsandmoreandmoredistantrelativeswellintohislatetwenties.Andthemostscrewed-uppartwasthatJimmyfeltgoodaboutit.Hehadadelusionallevelofself-confidence.Peoplewholaughedathimorhunguponhimwere,inhismind,“missingtheopportunityoftheirlives.”Peoplewhocalledhimoutonhisbogusbusinessideaswere“tooignorantandinexperienced”tounderstandhisgenius.Peoplewhopointedouthisdeadbeatlifestylewere“jealous”;theywere“haters”whoenviedhissuccess.

           Jimmydidmakesomemoney,althoughitwasusuallythroughthesketchiestofmeans,likesellinganotherperson’sbusinessideaashisown,orfinaglingaloanfromsomeone,orworse,talkingsomeoneintogivinghimequityintheirstart-up.Heactuallyoccasionallytalkedpeopleintopayinghimtodosomepublicspeaking.(Aboutwhat,Ican’tevenimagine.)

           TheworstpartwasthatJimmybelievedhisownbullshit.Hisdelusionwassobulletproof,itwashonestlyhardtogetmadathim,itwasactuallykindofamazing.

           Sometimeinthe1960s,developing“highself-esteem”—havingpositivethoughtsandfeelingsaboutoneself—becamealltherageinpsychology.Researchfoundthatpeoplewhothoughthighlyaboutthemselvesgenerallyperformedbetterandcausedfewerproblems.