by Christophe Johnson

 

This was a brilliant insight. Eureka. Self awareness is very important in today’s CEO.

“In hindsight, I slid into arrogance…” wrote Netflix CEO Reed Hastings.

Um…duh.

Arrogance can kill a business. Netflix is a great example. Every business that died when real estate plummeted is a great example. The ones too big to fail and failed anyway, the ones who cook the books to look better– all great examples.

So who is this guy? Reed founded Pure Software. After it went public and absorbed several other companies, it sold in 1997 to Rational Software. That same year he founded Netflix. He’s 49th on the Forbes Global 2000, serves on Microsoft’s board of directors and made over $5.5m last year.

Clearly this guy knows his stuff. Everything he touches turns to money. He’s a rock star. Rock stars don’t have to listen to anybody. He’s done things others haven’t; obviously he knows better.

It’s interesting that he sees arrogance in himself. That’s huge to own. I don’t know how sincere he is but people don’t admit to arrogance unless there’s something there. Has this humbled him? Who knows. Is he willing to consider others’ points of view? Is he willing to see value in others’ opinions?

Does he respect the intellect of others or does he equate capability with money?

I suspect that’s the root. It very well may be, in his mind, those who make money are more capable than those who don’t. If so, he doesn’t have to listen to anybody making less than a bizillion per annum.

The problem is money simply isn’t a driving factor for most people. CEOs of major companies may not fully grasp that.

Society teaches us the ones making the most money are the most capable. Society is stupid.

 

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