"Snakes in Suits" Review: essential reading for entrepreneurs
At dinner with Ken McCarthy the other week, we got around to talking about our experiences with people we had met in business that had left us, shall we say, a little worse for wear.
We compared notes on certain characters that had charmed their way into our lives and subsequently attempted to rip the guts out of our businesses. It was refreshing to know that I was not the only one who had experienced this kind of thing a number of times, but even better to know that it is such a problem in business that there has been a book written on the subject! It’s called “Snakes in Suits”.
I can’t recommend this book highly enough. If you’ve ever had a business relationship with someone that promises a lot, butters up your ego, manipulates you to such an extent you don’t realise it until it’s too late, brings in their own “people”, undermines you consistently behind your back, steals from you (ideas, money, shares and clients), lies to your friends – you will recognise the characters in this book.
If this has not happened to you, get this book now! It is far better to be forewarned.
The book itself describes itself as “A revealing look at psychopaths in the workplace – how to spot their destructive behaviour and stop them from creating choas”.
It is written by Paul Babiak, PH.D. and Robert D Hare, PH.D and gets right into the detail of how to become aware of the subtle warning signs of psycopathic behaviour – before it’s too late.
October 27, 2009
you should also try getting hold of a copy of “Winning by Intimidation” by Robert J Ringer. It’s a long forgotten classic and best seller (Circa 1973) but just as relevant today as businesses may change but business people don’t.
It’s a story of the authors business journey in the commercial property finance business, starting as a green, naive and broke salesman, his years of training at the “University of Screw U”, the only 3 types of business people they’re are, how to use perception, positioning and leapfrogging and finally how once he’d learnt all this, he then went on to make $800,000 a year.
I recommend it to any new/young business person, no matter what field they’re in. It will teach you about the real world of business, the people you come across, what they really want and how to deal with them.
Cheers
Matt.
October 27, 2009
Thanks for that Matt. I got a copy of that last year, but it’s sitting in the large pile next to my bed. I’ll move it up the list now! I believe it has changed it’s title over the years, and is now called “To Be Or Not To Be Intimidated”
October 27, 2009
You can get that Robert Ringer book from here: http://tinyurl.com/yfgkl2p
November 1, 2009
Here are a few more good ones:
“The Sociopath Next Door,” by Martha Stout
“The Mask of Sanity” by Hervey Cleckley, MD
“The Corporation: The Pathological Pursuit of Profit and Power”
By: Joel Bakan
“Political Ponerology: A Science on The Nature of Evil adjusted for Political Purposes, by Andrew M. Lobaczewski
It is worth knowing that around 4% of the population fits the profile of sociopathy. Sales, politics, bureacracies of all kinds, are favorite haunts. Internet marketing is a great place for them–just think of all the junk peddled today as new and wonderful.
November 2, 2009
Fan-psycho-tastic! Thanks for all those suggestions Sam.
November 2, 2009
There’s a heap of sharks in the business world.
Like you say it’s only afterwards when you’re looking
back that you realize.
Mind you, there are some great business people out there
as well.
regards
Mark
November 2, 2009
True, there are many great people in the business world and I always try to remember this whenever I’m under attack by another jealous arsehole. I think it is extremely important to never lose your sense of open-heartedness, even if it means you may well end up getting hurt again by falling for the same spiel from another nutter. If you don’t, you could end up losing out on an amazing relationship because you weren’t willing to let another entrepreneur into your circle.
Business life is a bit like love life. You’ve got to kiss a lot of frogs…