Bootstrapper.com - Confessions of Serial Entrepreneurs

Teamwork is a form of manipulation. It does not exist. Teamwork is essentially how very intelligent people get the average fool to sacrifice his own self interest for something non-existent.

Now before you start yelling - this does NOT apply in non profit and do-gooder situations. This is also the rule and there are always a few exceptions.

However the concept of teamwork is bullshit. People work in teams so that they can advance their own self interest. Maybe each member of the team wants to finish so that they can get a bonus or not fired but they are working for their own self interest. Anyone that tells you to take one for the team is trying to manipulating you. This is the concept behind wars/armies. Sacrificing for the greater good. In general this is bullshit - if you sacrifice yourself for the greater good - you are dead and the person that told you to do so (the president) is probably still alive. Ergo, the next time you hear that, ask the President (or general or boss) to step on a land-mind instead of you. See what happens. 99/100 they will balk, run away and whimper into a corner.

If your boss asks you to take the fall for the team - you are being his patsy - not helping the people. People are motivated purely by self - interest. For example we help people because we want to feel good about helping people. If someone is asking you to sacrifice your own self interest, you are the fool.

The world runs on favors. You scratch my back, I scratch yours. There are a number of issues with favors. First the obvious, a lot of people are users and won’t come through for you when you need a favor back. Or they do it out of guilt or hoping to cash in another favor in return - these situations are usually obvious.

The truth is very few people help without asking for favors in return. Personally, I never count things tit for tat. Life is too short. I also typically offer favors without people asking and tend to do lots of them. I volunteer goodwill. I don’t care if its not strategic, its my nature. However, when I ask for a favor, I always reciprocate several times over and I don’t ask for many favors.

My issue tonight is different and it’s a surefire way to kill a relationship. Doing favors builds goodwill however agreeing to do a favor and not coming through or worse putting it off or not taking it seriously is really fucking stupid. Letting someone down is not cool. Trying and tell them you are trying and not being able to come through is ok but saying “sure, i’ll do it, no problem” and not coming through gives off such badwill its not even funny. It essentially burns your chance of getting a favor back and you gain nothing in the process….my 2 cents…