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Now that I’ve done a two-part walk down memory lane, might as well finish the story of what happened to the narcissist CEO since it comes with a healthy scoop of karma.
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Right before I left, the firm sold a big percent of the company to a private equity firm. Major money was made.
On the day the deal closed, the CEO showed up driving an $100k+ new Porsche. Parked it right in front of the entrance.
He had gotten rich and wanted everyone to know.
On the day the deal closed, the CEO showed up driving an $100k+ new Porsche. Parked it right in front of the entrance.
He had gotten rich and wanted everyone to know.
Other than the partners, no one else got a dime. All of those people who made the company successful and attractive to acquirers, they didn’t get so much as a Bagel Friday.
Turns out, the partners didn’t get their share either.
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Turns out, the partners didn’t get their share either.
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Through a whole bunch of narcissistic chicanery, the CEO funneled all kinds of expenses into the partners’ side of the deal.
He wiped out half of their side of the proceeds. Kept his intact.
He alone pocketed triple what the 20 partners combined saw.
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He wiped out half of their side of the proceeds. Kept his intact.
He alone pocketed triple what the 20 partners combined saw.
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Suddenly flush with money and with bankers behind him, he set out to grow the company by buying another firm.
Digested a far larger company in a strategically illogical deal sure to implode by Year 3.
Could be window-dressed to look good on paper but was destined to fail.
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Digested a far larger company in a strategically illogical deal sure to implode by Year 3.
Could be window-dressed to look good on paper but was destined to fail.
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With the ship starting to shudder as it reached warp speed, he and the bankers found an acquirer for the whole co.
Another payday.
If the CEO had been wise, he would have counted his blessings and called it a day. Got more than he deserved twice.
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Another payday.
If the CEO had been wise, he would have counted his blessings and called it a day. Got more than he deserved twice.
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Narcissists are narcissists though, so he believed the success borne of others merely engineering around him was actually all the result of his brilliance.
With his company now a part of a massive global organization, he believed it was his destiny to claim the throne.
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With his company now a part of a massive global organization, he believed it was his destiny to claim the throne.
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Launched a full-court press to become part of the global org’s executive leadership team.
Set his sights on the CEO of a larger sister company as someone he could topple and climb above.
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Set his sights on the CEO of a larger sister company as someone he could topple and climb above.
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Back in the office though, all those partners who had been screwed badly though started to leave.
The rocket ship they had white-knuckled across the finish line in two deals wasn’t solid to begin with... and with them jettisoning left and right, it started to break apart.
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The rocket ship they had white-knuckled across the finish line in two deals wasn’t solid to begin with... and with them jettisoning left and right, it started to break apart.
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The company stalled... then missed targets... then started to spring leaks left and right.
The weaknesses all came to light.
The parent company started to see the light.
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The weaknesses all came to light.
The parent company started to see the light.
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The CEO’s narcissistic dream of running the whole global shebang came crashing down.
He was rebuffed by the parent... and then they started taking pieces of his company away... and then they dismantled what little was left and absorbed into other companies.
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He was rebuffed by the parent... and then they started taking pieces of his company away... and then they dismantled what little was left and absorbed into other companies.
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The emperor had no clothes...
...and no throne...
...and even lost his old kingdom.
He got fired.
Served out his contract in some useless made-up role akin to Special Ambassador to Guam. No power. No people.
Our boy, the dude who loved to ‘island’ people... got islanded.
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...and no throne...
...and even lost his old kingdom.
He got fired.
Served out his contract in some useless made-up role akin to Special Ambassador to Guam. No power. No people.
Our boy, the dude who loved to ‘island’ people... got islanded.
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As far as I know, he hasn’t had another position of authority since.
He sent me a LinkedIn connection request though. LOL.
I deleted it.
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He sent me a LinkedIn connection request though. LOL.
I deleted it.
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People naturally think “...but he’s still rich.”
Yes and no. Narcissists like Trump and this guy want the money because it’s a proxy for their specialness. They want it because of its effect on OTHER PEOPLE.
They think money will make others admire them.
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Yes and no. Narcissists like Trump and this guy want the money because it’s a proxy for their specialness. They want it because of its effect on OTHER PEOPLE.
They think money will make others admire them.
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When you strip away their professional status and leave them with only money though, they’re no happier than they were before they had it.
In fact, they were far happier when they were climbers than they are after getting pushed out of the tree with a bag of fruit.
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In fact, they were far happier when they were climbers than they are after getting pushed out of the tree with a bag of fruit.
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The partners have all scattered. Several have started companies of their own.
The one I know best built a company bigger and more successful than our old firm.
The key to their success: valuing their people.
Survive a narc CEO and you come to revile executive narcissism.
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The one I know best built a company bigger and more successful than our old firm.
The key to their success: valuing their people.
Survive a narc CEO and you come to revile executive narcissism.
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Somewhere though... in a quaint, wealthy suburb, there’s a big house with a couple of Porsches in the driveway.
Inside sits a narcissistic former CEO sending out LinkedIn invites and trying to get back in the game...
...while everyone who once worked for him hits ‘delete’.
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Inside sits a narcissistic former CEO sending out LinkedIn invites and trying to get back in the game...
...while everyone who once worked for him hits ‘delete’.
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