Friday, July 15, 2011

Are You an A**hole?

Awhile back I read an interview with Carol Bartz, Yahoo CEO (in the May 2010 issue of Esquire).   She said “I don’t work with assholes.  Are you one?”

IMHO this is both a great question and a really a**hole question.  I mean, who but an a**hole asks people if they're an a**hole?  And is anyone so much of an a**hole that they'd answer "yes"?  And is Bartz such an a**hole that she can't tell if you are?

OK, maybe I'm taking this too literally?  Maybe she really means "Don't be an a**hole."  Now that's advice I can really get behind.

-The freeway is jammed.  The guy on your right decides he needs to be in your lane.  Now.  Don't be an a**hole.  Let him in.  Let him get home one car length sooner than you.

-You're in line for the cashier with a full shopping cart.  The person behind you is holding three items and two kids.  Don't be an a**hole.  Let her go ahead of you.

-You've been looking for a parking spot or about five minutes when one opens up a bit ahead of you.  As you ease towards it someone from the opposite direction just flies into it.  Let it go.  Don't be an a**hole.  Sh*t happens.

-In the above, don't be that a**hole who just takes the spot without regard for whoever has been waiting longer.

You get the idea.  Think of it as a guideline for a happy life - Don't be an a**hole.