Businessmen Who Think the World Revolves Around Them!

There is a version of the old light bulb joke that goes like this:

"How many narcissists does it take to change a light bulb?"

"Just one. They hold the bulb and the whole world revolves around them."

Every now and then I encounter businessmen or executives that think that the world revolves around their brand or company.

Their attitude simply lies on this: "We make the rules, everybody in the market obeys and we find it strange when they don't"

Well guess what! Unless you represent Apple or Microsoft, you will be regularly disappointed when thinking like this.

Such an approach will make you seem arrogant and people will avoid cooperating with you.

I have heard all versions of the story when we are approached to help a company expand to Africa.

From the legit companies that understand there is need of a certain investment of resources down to these 3:

1. Help my company expand with your own resources and we WILL pay you then, if successful.

2. Help my company expand with your own resources and we MAY pay you then, if successful.

3. Help my company expand with your own resources and we will NOT pay you , even if successful, because it is your honor to work with us.

Unbelievable, right? Not that much.

25% of the companies that approach us think in one of the above 3 ways mentioned!

No, the market will not obey you. You will not dictate your peers.

The reason behind such a behavior lies in the environment the businessmen are accustomed to. An environment full of employees and flatterers. Not having an idea how the real world works, makes them incapable of understanding it, therefore lacking the knowledge to set a proper strategy for their business.