A VC - Latest Comments in Self Destruction

Re: Self Destruction

Scott — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 20:52:15 -0000

I need help with self destruction problems. i have great potential. I have been successful beyond any of my wildest dreams. but, sooner or later i crash. i get in fist fights. I become arrogant. I loose friends and go back to friends who are nobodies.

I have the same driving potentials that you speak of to get to the top.....but not to stay there I am still young and want to right this problem now.

these people who help CEOs and such I would like some contact info or advice
email: sblack@vandals.uidaho.edu

Re: Self Destruction

Don White — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 10:53:17 -0000

Eliot Spitzer, governor of New York, was just a minor leaguer compared to the mess Obama will get us in if he's elected. Frankly, he better take Hillary up on the VP job, if she'll have him after all of this Anti-American stuff. It's a festering sore on Obama that will only get worse. Don White, Windermere, FL

Re: Self Destruction

fredwilson — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 18:42:05 -0000

No but you should

Re: Self Destruction

jackson — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 21:12:20 -0000

Has anyoned coined 'Tailgate' yet?

Re: Self Destruction

Antman — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 08:05:31 -0000

I have often felt the most successful, driven people are diven by the need to run, or hide from somethin'. Their desire to succeed is a cloak to hide insecurities, self-loathing or somethin' of the sort. This outward persona requires an outlet, a place they can "let go" and allow the things they are hiddin' from out. The fall is the expression what they have been hidin' from their whole life. One might suggest; ya boy Spitzer doesn't like himself very much, positioning himself as a ritious, defender of the people, caped crusader was his way of overcompensating for the insecurity. Paying to be with a beautiful 22 year old excort was his release form the facade.

Or he is just and idiot.

Peace!

Re: Self Destruction

S.t — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 21:06:40 -0000

(my comment to Sen Obama's statement on Huffington Post.com regarding his pastor Rev. Jeremiah Wright)

Sen. Obama

You've been going to Rev. Jeremiah Wright's hate rallies for 20yrs.

He performed your marriage. He baptized you daughters.

The title of you book THE AUDACITY OF HOPE was lifted from a Rev. Jeremiah Wright sermon.

Your wife speaks the same language as Rev. Jeremiah Wright.

Sen. Obama -- YOU ARE DONE.

It it time to withdraw from the race for president and resign from the US Senate.

Re: Self Destruction

S.t — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 18:35:55 -0000

Barack Obama's mentor Hillary aint never been called a .....

http://www.youtube.com/watc...

Obama's Double Life Exposed: His Racist, Hatemonger Pastor

Re: Self Destruction

Andy Freeman — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 13:09:23 -0000

What kind of person brings his spouse to one of these press conferences?

We can argue about whether Spitzer's crime is serious, but hiding behind his wife at every opportunity shows that his character is seriously lacking.

Re: Self Destruction

fredwilson — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 08:58:01 -0000

There are no neutral publications. Which is why I prefer blogs. They don't pretend to be neutral

Fred

Re: Self Destruction

fredwilson — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 08:56:02 -0000

Look inside

A wonderful phrase that is hard to do but we must

Fred

Re: Self Destruction

fredwilson — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 08:56:01 -0000

Excellent points made with color. Great comment!

Re: Self Destruction

Guest — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 08:26:02 -0000

Kudos, Fred, this is an incredibly insightful post, followed by great comments. Even though Spitzer is the current trigger, Bill Clinton in my mind is still the gold standard of a brilliant, hyperdriven public figure with self-destructive demons on the inside. The doubt you brought up with respect to Obama is very valid in that regard, he may be more similar to Bill C, than Hilary is. But you know what? This is a risk I am willing to take for the same reason you do take risks with maniacal entrpreneuers: substance matters more than character. The reasons you back them up is because they have something of substance: idea, technology, organizational talent, etc. Similarly, Bill Clinton is a policy genius who presided over times of prosperity, despite all of the distractions he brought up. What Obama promises is too substantial to pass up on: ability to inspire a dispirited nation, fantastic judgement, a brilliant mind that is candid, straightforward, moderate and optimistic... I see a healthy dose of self-importance, true, but I'll take that any day of the week over a better adjusted yet mediocre candidate...
Oh, and by the way, Kobe Bryant is the most sociopathic, self-destructive, egomaniacal player in the entire NBA, do you think the Lakers regret not trading him before the season? Me neither...

Re: Self Destruction

Arun — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 07:45:59 -0000

Raza - I really liked that quote - "The servant of the people is their master". Simple, yet profound.

Re: Self Destruction

fredwilson — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 07:45:02 -0000

You have to understand his politics and style to understand why this has most likely cost him his job

Re: Self Destruction

Matt Kaufman — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 07:13:51 -0000

... I had commented earlier to somebody [in person I mean, not here] asking about thiss -- I swear if I recall correctly I remember him being questioned on maybe Meet The Press a few months back...

And just googled it, and yeah it was on Meet The Press .... I don't follow politics in depth at all, but when I got a surprise response from the person I mentioned this to, I just assumed that I had gotten something mixed up --- I was barely paying attention at the time -- just flipping channels and this specifically caught my interest enough to watch it a little... But yeah, here's the quote that I found most impactful on my opinion of him [and unfortunately I still think he's the best out of the likely possible results...]:

""I have already acknowledged this was a mistake. Not only should I have not been involved with any business decision with him in particular, but with contributors generally," Obama said. "There was no evidence of wrong-doing. This was an above the board, market-based transaction."

Obama said he has not talked to Rezko "since he got in trouble with the law."

The whole duration of watching this annoyed me... and that ending comment quoted above .. and watching him say it ... just sunk my feeling about him for the most part... Not the act in itself necessarily, just his monotoned/tight/scriptish-like/simple response and body character while talking about it...

Re: Self Destruction

Colin Lewis — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 06:48:17 -0000

Fred - As a former founder and CEO of a stock listed Internet start-up and now a business Coach I can certainly agree with your observations. I came very close to a personal self-destruct situation, rising high when we listed and only just managed to get my feet back on the ground, but not before losing the respect and trust of some team members. I now coach on the blind spots you mentioned and can confirm that in the majority of cases (when people are correctly aligned and motivated) change happens...

Re: Self Destruction

Jessica — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 05:12:07 -0000

pah, all these men on here commenting. honestly, i'm surprised that the response to this has largely been either sympathetic psycho-analysis or remorse for a fallen hero, like some sort of greek tragedy where the main character grapples desperately against the forces of fate and human choice. well guess what. eliot spitzer didn't cross the road and pass a prostitute and accidentally have sex with her.

i see selfishness and arrogance, plain and simple. why analyze that?! what are the 'demons' that cause that?? are these demons our fate? come on, they shouldn't even come close.

perhaps as a female, where i've grown up knowing few women in positions of power or their own wealth, it is always that much more insulting to know that some men with power and money don't give a damn about the women next to them. is spitzer 'obsessed' with power? he can't control his urges to use it, and get away with things? i'm sorry, then maybe that just means he sucks as a person.

sure, it's disappointing, i suppose, to merely know that someone you once viewed as successful and bright have another side to them. but at the end of the day, after i shake my head and mutter, IDIOT! i feel no sympathy.

i hope his wife is absolutely roiling.

Re: Self Destruction

Zaid Farooqui — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 23:58:04 -0000

Fred, this is one of your best posts, from an entrepreneur's point of view.

What a lot of people, especially arm-chair commentators, don't realize is the constant up and down almost all successful entrepreneurs go through. The problem is, most entrepreneurs are very hesitant to admit to their issues, let alone find solutions to their problems.

I have benefited tremendously from having couple of friends that I can trust while seeking their advice. Just having someone who can hear you out without judging you can go a long way.

Like you said, first step o fixing your issues is admitting to them. That boils down to being honest about yourself--something much easier said than done.

Re: Self Destruction

projectcomments — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 23:09:31 -0000

excellent post

Re: Self Destruction

Giordano — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 23:08:17 -0000

I don't get the cause of all this indignation. Maybe it's because in Italy, where I'm from, when a politician gets caught with prostitutes it's not a big deal, or often people actually give him the thumbs-up, or because I believe the personal sphere should be separated by the public, or because (having worked in Asia and Brazil for years), I found out that about... oh, 95%, of men on a business trip actually will go with prostitutes if they have a chance to, but why this should ruin his career?

it's a matter between him and his wife. Going with a prostitute is not a crime, organized prostitution is. He was just a client, so this should be kept in the personal sphere.

Re: Self Destruction

scott crawford — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 23:02:26 -0000

There's a saying in recovery, "You spot it, you got it" that seems to apply to Spitzer, and from which we can all learn. If you feel righteous indignation rising up in you --no matter what the subject or target-- take a step back and breathe a few times, deeply. And look inside.

Re: Self Destruction

charlie crystle — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 22:55:43 -0000

indeed

Re: Self Destruction

charlie crystle — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 22:49:46 -0000

is IBD an a-political, objective, neutral publication? "a Saddam protege" --that kind of undocumented characterization sounds familiar. Scaife, Heritage Foundation kind of crap.

Re: Self Destruction

charlie crystle — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 22:41:17 -0000

the business world doesn't care about a CEO's personal failings, just his/her professional onesm and in a lot of cases, failing is considered positive. to a point.

Re: Self Destruction

RAS — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 22:08:07 -0000

I will second that...