Selfish, Scared and Stupid

Stop Fighting Human Nature and Increase Your Performance, Engagement and Influence

Wiley, 2014

15 min read

10 take-aways

Audio & text

What's inside?

Everyone tells you not to be selfish or stupid or cowardly. Everyone is wrong.

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Don’t be self-centered, cowardly or dumb – well, of course not, you may think. After all, such well-meaning admonitions drawn from conventional wisdom are almost universally accepted. Yet according to behavioral researchers Dan Gregory and Kieran Flanagan, being “selfish, scared and stupid” has been and still is a primary formula for success. Acting otherwise is a recipe for failure. Even though it sounds counterintuitive, the authors explain why being selfish, scared and stupid are your only sane behavioral choices. Starting with their unusual premise, you’ll enjoy this wise, wry and observant chronicle. Despite joking that they may have a “nearly sociopathic perspective detached from values and judgment that may distort the interpretation of results,” the authors prove to be iconoclasts with a sense of fun and self-preservation. getAbstract recommends their methods to those seeking motivation, influence, success and peace of mind.

Summary

Being Smart, Selfless and Fearless Doesn’t Work

The theories most behavioral researchers cite as sound and sensible ways to understand motivation are not anything of the kind. Many behavioral scientists use the word “positivism” to characterize why people take certain actions. The term means having an optimistic attitude, noble feelings, generous urgings, saint-like selflessness, admirable courage and willingness to work hard. Such attributes seem impressive, uplifting and commendable, but they’re mostly unrealistic and not really all that great. Such supposedly praiseworthy tendencies are, in fact, counterproductive and often can lead to terrible outcomes.

It’s Not What People Say

To motivate yourself or influence others, try the opposite tack: Revel in selfishness, stupidity and daily scare tactics. Strategize your thoughts and actions to work with basic human nature – fearful, self-absorbed and dumb – not in opposition to it. Align the results you want with your true motives and actions, and not idealized, unrealistic scenarios.

You will achieve more of your desired results when you pay less attention to what people say and more attention to what...

About the Authors

Behavioral researchers and strategists Dan Gregory and Kieran Flanagan co-founded The Impossible Institute, an innovation think tank where Gregory is president and CEO.

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Z. L. 8 years ago

I'm not sure about this line of thought. If humans continued to be selfish, scared & stupid as the author suggests, exactly where would we be as a people? I would give it thumbs up only because it encourages discussion.
C. T. 10 years ago

I first thought this was a joke but the concept actually makes a lot of sense!

Dan Gregory and Kieran Flanagan