Is Greed Good?
Today, I’d like to take an opportunity to ruminate a little. With my latest site now on the auction block and me waiting for the results with my breath held, it seems like a good time to contemplate the beautiful intricacies of the free market system.
Allow me to begin this post by quoting my favorite movie character of all time - Gordon Gekko from Wall Street. Michael Douglas got an Oscar for his portrayal of the brilliant corporate raider, and with a good reason.
Put simply, Gordon Gekko is the man we can all aspire to be. Supreme intelligence, perfectly ruthless and utterly unscrupulous, Gordon’s monologue is an example to us all:
“The point is, ladies and gentlemen, that greed, for lack of a better word, is good. Greed is right. Greed works. Greed clarifies, cuts through, and captures the essence of the evolutionary spirit. Greed, in all of its forms — greed for life, for money, for love, knowledge — has marked the upward surge of mankind.”
But that was almost 30 years ago - are the eloquence and brilliance of this speech still relevant to the 21st century, with collapsing financial institutions, white collar crimes and and a world economy that’s heading right to Hell in a hand-basket?
Let’s explore that, shall we?
First of all, let us consider the power of individual greed. To me, there are only two powerful, reliable motivators of personal success - greed is hatred. Some would try to allocate love to the same category, but let’s be realistic: love is a passing feeling, a fleeting moment of emotional ecstasy that all too soon gives way to grim reality. In contrast, hatred and greed are eternal.
How, then, does greed motivate us? Put simply - it drives us to succeed. It makes us take phone calls at 10PM and send e-mails at 2AM. It forces us overcome all obstacles - whether physical or emotional - and push through, no matter what. It compels to achieve success no matter the cost - and no matter who or what stands in the way.
Greed is the ultimate motivator. There is nothing more intoxicating that the smell of crispy dollars fresh off the printing press. And there is nothing more rewarding that standing up in front of a crowd of people, dressed in expensive clothing and surrounded by trophy blondes and, quite frankly, saying “I’m rich and I earned it - so fuck you.”
Henry Kissinger one said that power is the ultimate aphrodisiac. Although he was a brilliant politician and, like me, a believer in realist geopolitics, I would still like to take the unthinkable liberty of disagreeing with Mr. Kissinger. Power is not the ultimate aphrodisiac - personal success is.
And, how, then do we measure individual success, if not through one’s accumulation of wealth, if not through one’s persistence and resilience, if not through one’s ability to pull through and force their way to wealth no matter the cost or obstacles? And, for such, people, what motivator drove them?
Greed. Greed can come in a variety of forms - greed for love, money, power, knowledge - but, in all cases, it is that overwhelming, unquenchable lust of acquisition, dominance and control that drives successful people. There is no point in striving to be successful for others, only for yourself.
Greed, then, is not just good. Greed is great. Greed is the way to success.
Greed is right.
Greed works.
