I have a core group
I go to when I want to hear the brutal truth.
I also have a larger group
I go to when I want a pat on the back.
One of the reasons I’m successful
is because I know
who belongs in which group.
In the Rich 100 edition
of Canadian Business,
former CEO of Seagram Co
Edgar Bronfman
talks about ass-kissers and truth-tellers.
“One of the hardest things to do
when you’re a chief executive
is to separate the ass-kissers
from those who tell you the truth.
And, of course, there’s a lot more ass-kissers
than there are truth-tellers.
Sometimes it’s very difficult
for people to tell you truth.
Nobody wants to get in the ashcan
because they insulted you.
They tend to skirt around the issue.
You really have to know
how to penetrate the nonsense.”