Are companies promoting people for talent, or for physiques, rosy cheeks, and facial symmetry?” -that’s a question asked in the Wharton Magazine Spring issue featuring Professor Michael Platt and the new Wharton Neuroscience Initiative. (link to the article)

I know the answer to that question, and so do you. I talk about it a lot about in my future book, to be released this Summer. And since people love color coding so much, I’m thinking of doing something outrageous, like an all-red book cover. People may start associating it with the red light district. (we know what that means). There was also a site that is no longer in existence, I think it was called MyRedbook, something like it. That is not going to be the title of the book, however.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6lViC50N8o

Platt and another scientist, Graham, have the crispiest of arguments between them:

Graham: “So the brain is working against us !”
Platt: “The brain is us.”
Me (imaginary, if I was present):” Geniuses at work. Brain vs. brain”

Readers may take away simple exercises, described here as “nano tools”:i.e., considering the uses of a pencil other than writing.

On the importance of having a solid butt:

monkeys advertise a lot about their vitality and health through their backsides. Healthier baboons, for instance, have bigger, redder rear ends and are more attractive as mates.”

Quote of the day: “Destiny is what you create for yourself. Fate is when you fail to create your own destiny.” -Sadhguru
On the monkey porn experiment:

“monkeys would willingly trade a valuable commodity—sweet fruit juice—for the opportunity to view images of other monkeys’ butts.” I knew that porn was older than the age of the film tape, I just didn’t know how old.

Here are some of the topics I write about in this future book:

  • How Bosses are different than the rest of us. Who makes the cut
  • Meritocracy is a Myth
  • The Job Market
  • We are “slaves to the free market” myth
  • Rules of Thumb 
  • Ass kissing works, until it doesn’t.
  • Why Hollywood movies are not real life
  • The Path to the corner office is not what you see on TV and Conference talks
See also  The greatest hack in the world

On forging alliances, on being awe-inspiring at CEO level, Capturing attention: from low-level to high, Can you pick your fights ?, CEOs wonder box, and much, much more.

Smooth sailing ?

36 Replies to “You’ve got talent: so what ?”

  1. Serenity says:

    Return of The Monkey Who Wipes His Ass might be a good title. I'll buy it.

    Reply
  2. Sura says:

    We're hoping you're writing The New Book of Enoch.

    Reply
  3. Sura says:

    The Book of the Pirate who lost his leg.

    Cheerios,

    Sura

    Reply
  4. Ken says:

    How to make make enemies and rid of friends book

    Reply
  5. Tim says:

    Can you enumerate the points you're going to cover ? Is this the Book of Spartacus that you're working on ?

    Thanks,

    Tim

    Reply
  6. Max Cantor says:

    I couldn't lay down the bulk points here, for obvious reasons. No, it's not the Book of Spartacus.

    Anyone else wants to guess the title ? Good-not great-choices so far.

    Reply
  7. James Kirk says:

    Max Cantor's Annals of Machiavellian Science.

    How about that ?

    Reply
  8. Brian says:

    Well, what about this title: The Apprentice Hand-book: What Star Wars didn't teach you

    Reply
  9. Rick Sagan says:

    Road Rage and the Motorcycle Kid.

    I will read that.

    Reply
  10. Steve says:

    Just an idea: "12 Rules for Stepping out of line"

    Reply
  11. Phil says:

    Spartacus's Black Book, with red annotations

    Reply
  12. Hector says:

    How to Sleep with your Boss when you Don't Know Anybody

    Reply
  13. Hera says:

    How I left Goldman Sachs to become a church leader.

    Reply
  14. Mark says:

    The Rebirth of Spartacus: Gloria in Saecula

    Gloria in Saecula = Glory for the Ages

    Reply
  15. Max Cantor says:

    Let's make something loud and clear here. This book is not about CEOs, their lives and exploits. This is about the layman. About climbing the corporate ladder. About gauging the moves you need to make to become a boss. Forget about the CEOs, they already have their trainers and coaches. This is about what you need to stand out and function properly. It's going to be awesome.

    Reply
  16. Max Cantor says:

    Smart. You're thinking of the Aircraft Bluebook or perhaps the Kelley Blue Book (cars).

    Reply
  17. Max Cantor says:

    Listen up, people.

    I spend a lot of time making the case that,**fear is not an emotion**. So that's in the store.

    Reply
  18. Max Cantor says:

    Lot of good stuff in this book.

    "How to Train your boss. Better yet, domesticate him."

    We are debunking a lot of BS, such as the importance of your IQ.

    "Classic intelligence (IQ) is possibly the least important factor for predicting success."

    Anti-boss software for the brain. No more, no less.

    Reply
  19. Max Cantor says:

    How can you become skilled at skepticism and read people at the level Wall Street financiers and rich people in general, do ?

    I go over that.

    Reply

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