Over the course of your career, you'll encounter people who use strategic sycophancy in order to level themselves up, rather than, say, doing great work.
Some will hit their inevitable ceiling early, but others will actually continue to thrive.
Some will hit their inevitable ceiling early, but others will actually continue to thrive.
You will start to wonder if it'll ever catch up with them, but I've convinced myself that in the long-term, it's just not sustainable for them. Eventually enough people will see them for who they really are--charlatans.
I realize that's little satisfaction for those of you working toward your recognition, your due. But there is no more surefire way to be successful in your career than to do great work, take ownership for everything that goes wrong, and be kind to everyone, especially yourself.
I can only speak for the tech industry, of course, but I suspect this is largely universal. I've only been doing this 15 years now, but the highest-performers (and most respected folks) I've encountered actually get-shit-done.
And while there are many people in the tech industry who seem to keep getting away with it, the more sunlight, the better.
