I often wondered what the exact flaw in human society is that propels those with a talent for bare-knuckled, Marquess of Queensberry be damned office politics over those whose talents lie with the actual "Nuts and bolts" of a project.
But I know it's a phenomenon that almost every single person in a technical field has experienced at one time or another.
When I've had the misfortune of working for an executive who really, truly doesn't understand the field well enough to set reasonable goals, I've tried to be philosophical about it.
When the executive ruthlessly drove the employees to go faster and faster and faster and then screamed obscenites when minor mistakes occurred, I've told myself that although it's unpleasent, it makes you stronger
When the executive fired people who burned out after a couple of years of this, I felt bad, but took it as a lesson.
When the executive fired people when he felt that their creative talent had simply been exhausted, I felt even worse and was just glad it didn't happen to me.
When the executive fired people who simply didn't have a brilliant idea to present him that day, I told myself that they should have known better than to ride with the boss.
Maybe human beings need ruthless, egomaniacal CEO's like this. Maybe most human accomplishments worthy of note had such a person behind them. Who knows?
But I do know this:
When this executive dies, he'll be hailed as a visionary. He'll be given credit for work that he not only didn't do, but did not at any point in his life possess the talent to do. He'll be given credit for the ideas of every single person who bears his shoe-print on their shoulder.
And when you die, few will even know your name.
