Now,
I have to say that I was very eager to share this finding with all of
you. Some may not speak English and I apologize but the diagnosis was
done by an American business magazine, and translating it would be too
much work. The economic and opportunity cost of translating it is more
than I'm willing to spend. However, I promise you that you will
appreciate it. I decided that it's extremely relevant to our list
because I am going to add my twist to it by strictly saving the original
text, so that you too, can partake of the delight that I did while
reading it. I will put my addings between [brakets] so that you
differientate.
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Execs' Dark Secrets: Shrunken Heads
Executive psychology for the newly initiated.
Arrogance, narcissism, grandiosity. Executives at Enron, WorldCom, and
other companies seem incapable of controlling their worst impulses. What
dark secrets drive someone who has it all to risk it all? A therapist
will charge $250 an hour to ponder the question; we did it for free.
While offering no diagnoses of the individuals mentioned below,
psychologists say their behavior is typical of executive-level patients,
who tend to fall into four archetypes of avarice.
[Doesn't this fit the diagnosis that one would make on our political and
economic leaders? Does any names come to your mind while reading these
lines? I would replace those names by some familiar names ....think of
people in your countries who would match these profiles]
[Also, if a therapist charges $250 for this kind of analysis, he would
make a fortune in Africa, because they are some many sick there]
The Evil Genius
Profile: Addicted to intellectual power and control. [exple: Abdou Diouf,
Nicephor Soglo, Laurent Gbagbo, etc...]
Case Study: Jeffrey Skilling, former CEO, Enron.
Under Fire For: Allegedly using complex off-balance-sheet partnerships to
hide billions in debt and artificially boost earnings.
Symptoms: Arrogance. Skilling boasted (and convinced investors) that
Enron was better than old-economy outfits like ExxonMobil, dismissing
skeptics for not getting it. ?People who raise questions are people who
have not gone through it in detail,? he told a journalist in early 2001.
Delusional Episode: In 2001, Enron changed its motto from ?the world?s
leading energy company? to ?the world?s leading company.?
Armchair analysis: Narcissism. ?The person regards himself as uniquely
superior to others,? says Stanton Samenow, a clinical psychologist in
Alexandria, Virginia, and author of inside the Criminal Mind. ?He often
has a chessboard view of life, in which people are pawns to be shuffled
around.?
The Accumulator
Profile: Equates money and possessions with self-worth. [Mobutu Sese
Seko, Eyadema, Alphonse Boni Family in Cote d' Ivoire, Konan Bedie Family
in Cote d'Ivoire]
Case Study: L. Dennis Kozlowski, former CEO, Tyco International.
Accused of: Tax violations, conspiracy, falsifying business records,
tampering with evidence.
Symptoms: Extreme penny pinching and/or conspicuous consumption.
Kozlowski purportedly made more than $300 million between 1999 and 2002;
owns luxury homes in Manhattan, Nantucket, New Hampshire, and Florida;
and captains a 130-foot racing yacht.
Delusional Episode: Speaking at New Hampshire?s St. Anselm College in
May, Kozlowski told graduating seniors to ?do the right thing, not the
easy thing.? He was indicted three weeks later.
Armchair Analysis: Oedipal issues. ?When you don?t pay taxes, you?re
spitting in the face of the government?and the government is the ultimate
embodiment of the father figure,? says L.A. clinical psychologist Steven
Berglas.
The Enabler
Profile: Driven by greed; drawn to power; unable to say no. [Guei Robert,
Charles Taylor, Blaise Compaore, Koffigoh of Togo]
Case Study: Jack Grubman, former telecom analyst, Salomon Smith Barney.
Under Fire For: Allegedly misleading investors with inflated stock
ratings.
Symptoms: Sycophantic behavior; bloated self-image. A self-described
?telecom junkie? who has earned $20 million a year, Grubman kept rosy
recommendations on Worldcom, Global Crossing, Winstar, and others.
Delusional Episode: Maintained ?buy? rating on Worldcom stock even as it
fell roughly 90 percent from its June 1999 peak.
Armchair Analysis: The Enabler provides deviant CEOs validation to act on
their wildest fantasies, dreams, and fears. ?They flatter you, puff you
up, tell you you can do anything,? says Michael Maccoby, a psychologist
in Washington, D.C. ?When auditors and lawyers say you can do certain
things, CEOs are going to go along with it.?
The Social Climber
Profile: Uses business success as a means to celebrity. [Simplice Zinsou,
old President of Africa Sport; Roger Ouegnin of ASEC, some of those
"grotos" of Abidjan who have dated both mothers and daughters even at the
same time]
Case Study: Samuel Waksal, former CEO, Imclone Systems.
Accused of: Insider trading.
Symptoms: Exceedingly charming; surrounds self with trappings of wealth
and fame. Waksal has entertained Mick Jagger and Mariel Hemingway, plays
tennis with financier Carl Icahn, has a large contemporary art
collection, and owns a home in SoHo and property in the Hamptons. He is
also said to be $80 million in debt.
Unusual Romantic Episode: reportedly Dated both Martha Stewart and her
daughter, Alexis.
Armchair Analysis: narcissistic with delusional tendencies. ?They want to
make themselves imperial, so they create their own worlds and often lose
all touch with reality,? Maccoby says. ?They wallow in celebrity.?
Hope you liked it.
Thierry Vodounou
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