Тонкое искусство пофигизма

           Itturnsoutthatteachingpeopletobelievethey’reexceptionalandtofeelgoodaboutthemselvesnomatterwhatdoesn’tleadtoapopulationfullofBillGatesesandMartinLutherKings.ItleadstoapopulationfullofJimmys.

           Jimmy,thedelusionalstart-upfounder.Jimmy,whosmokedpoteverydayandhadnorealmarketableskillsotherthantalkinghimselfupandbelievingit.Jimmy,thetypeofguywhoyelledathisbusinesspartnerforbeing“immature,”andthenmaxedoutthecompanycreditcardatLeBernardintryingtoimpresssomeRussianmodel.Jimmy,whowasquicklyrunningoutofauntsanduncleswhocouldloanhimmoremoney.

           Yes,thatconfident,high-self-esteemJimmy.TheJimmywhospentsomuchtimetalkingabouthowgoodhewasthatheforgotto,youknow,actuallydosomething.

           Theproblemwiththeself-esteemmovementisthatitmeasuredself-esteembyhowpositivelypeoplefeltaboutthemselves.Butatrueandaccuratemeasurementofone’sself-worthishowpeoplefeelaboutthenegativeaspectsofthemselves.IfapersonlikeJimmyfeelsabsolutelyfuckinggreat99.9percentofthetime,despitehislifefallingapartaroundhim,thenhowcanthatbeavalidmetricforasuccessfulandhappylife?

           Jimmyisentitled.Thatis,hefeelsasthoughhedeservesgoodthingswithoutactuallyearningthem.Hebelievesheshouldbeabletoberichwithoutactuallyworkingforit.Hebelievesheshouldbelikedandwell-connectedwithoutactuallyhelpinganyone.