Guest Post by Scott Adams
When I am listening to advice from others, 99% of the time I exhibit a short attention span. The other 1% of the time the advice is worthy of a listen. In that rare case, I can listen all day. Given the situation I just described, would you say I have a short attention span?
Suppose you give me a briefing book with thousands of facts and I only seem to care about three of those facts. And then I succeed at whatever I’m trying to do with my three facts. Given that set of circumstances, would you say I am incompetent?
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Part of the fun of watching the press cover President Trump is that they don’t have a leadership filter. Most writers and TV news people have never been leaders in super-complicated industries. President Trump has. And let me tell you a few necessary skills a leader in that situation needs to possess:
1. No patience with long explanations. If an advisor can’t put the USEFUL information in summary form, ignore and move to the next advisor.
2. Ability to know which variables are sufficient to make the decision.
A president needs those two qualities. Otherwise, the job would overwhelm. if you are one of the advisors who doesn’t get enough attention from the president – because your explanations of things are overly wordy or useless – what message do you leak to the press?
Answer: You say President Trump has a short attention span.
You get this same situation with almost every CEO of every large organization. In larger companies, underlings rarely think the CEO is sufficiently well-informed to make decisions. I write a comic strip about this sort of thing. It’s a universal phenomenon in large organizations.
And what happens if you are an advisor who puts together a brief that is too long and too complicated for a president with a hundred issues swirling around in his or her head? When your president skims or skips your brief, you start whispering to associates that he has no appetite for knowledge. You probably don’t leak the other explanation – that you are bad at summarizing.
Let me give you some context that might help here.
One of the patterns I observe in U.S. politics is that Democrats organize around the general concept of fairness for all people, including non-citizens. Republicans are more oriented toward the psychology of motivation. And that means you can easily put the wrong filter on your analysis of how much information a president needs before making decisions. The fairness president needs different information than the motivation president. Each would stop the learning when they had enough for their purposes, which are different.
For example, let’s say I’m a Republican president and you are trying to explain some policy options to me. As soon as you begin your description, I can see that your recommended approach would demotivate my base. That’s a non-starter. Do I need to hear the rest of your details? Skip it. Don’t need the details.
President Trump has navigated complicated business situations for decades. I’ll bet during those years he exhibited what others might label a short attention span and a low interest in details. Yet he succeeded, bigly. Same situation when he ran for president. He ignored a lot of details and won anyway.
Generally speaking, if you see a person who is a failure in life ignoring advice and eschewing knowledge, the best explanation for that situation is you are dealing with an incompetent person.
But if you hear allegations of a short attention span in someone with a multi-decade history of successfully navigating complicated industries, be open to the possibility that the messenger is pushing useless information on an executive who is good at knowing what matters and what does not.
From my limited vantage point, I can’t tell if President Trump is ignoring useful information from aides or useless information. The only thing I know for sure is that it would look the same to both of us.
Until he succeeds.
Another good Adams column.
One of the better articles by Scott Adams, and all his stuff is good.
Iska, I prefer to believe my lyin’ eyes. I hate being gaslighted by Adams who keeps mansplaining to me the things I apparently don’t understand about politics.
He’s the one who came up with the idea that Trump was a master persuader. If he was a persuader like Reagan, he would have more support within his own party. As it is, he appears to be under siege, hardly the outcome you expect of a Cicero.
There was a concept, back in the day, called the Peter Principle that looks like it applies here. Trump may have been a successful businessman muscling in on otherwise defenseless citizens but he has taken on a job he is not fit for. Governing with an iron fist may be a good technique in Russia but it will only bestir the hornets nest in Congress.
But that’s just my ignorant point of view.
I haven’t seen the iron fist. I’m actually waiting for him to punch back–where is the “best defense is a good offense” strategy going to come around?
Wanna shut up this Russia crap and FBI crap once and for all? How about a full scale investigation into Hillary, the Seth Rich murder, Bill Clinton’s involvement with the “Lolita Express”, the Clinton Foundation fraudulantly using funds on everything from campaign ads to Chelsea’s wedding?
The truth is–he needs to start punching back–independent counsels, investigations into these treasonous “leaks” and phony “undisclosed sources” that the WaPo, times and cohorts keep reporting otherwise they can make up any shite they want and he’ll forever be defending a bunch of fantastical, baseless BS—Trump, FIGHT BACK– JAIL THEM–Drain The Friggin Swamp
Dammit, iron fist is a figure of speech for ‘my way or the highway’. You’ll never see an iron fist because it’s hidden inside a velvet glove. Comey is a good example of this: since he refused to take a loyalty oath to Trump, he was unceremoniously dismissed. Trump even fucked him over with not too faint criticsm, he said Comey had been fucking up for a long time, his FBI agency in turmoil.
Trump sure knows how to project his problems onto others.
Don’t try to derail this thread with your raving about Hillary. She lost, let her be. The topic is Trump, in case your adult ADD kicked in and distracted you.
criticism
Awww..did someone hurt your wittle feewings by not fawning over your astute insight into the true nature of everything? Did someone’s panties get bunched up because there are those who aren’t marveled at your unique and solitary insight into the true nature of things?
My point WAS EXACTLY about Trump–and the type of leadership he needs to show if he wants to actually clean up the shithole inside the beltway……..prosecuting Hillary ( who has not gone away anymore than Obama has with his office 4 blocks away) is a TACTIC to reverse the current course which has him on constant defense and denial from any allegation the globalist elites want.
He won’t give them a new Cold War with Russia, is not sending troops into Syria to kill Assad and the Syrian forces and he actually asked China to control fatboy in N Korea—the warhawk Dems and Neocons were really counting on some big military expenditures that he hasn’t delivered upon ( just a few obsolete tomahawks used up on an empty airfield after giving prior warning.)
He has disappointed much–but I am glad TPP was destroyed and what’s left of the US economic independence remains on life support. We have a decent man as the new SCOTUS instead of a gay, black woman or transvestite which Hillary would have placed for “diversity”, he’s done what he could to inhibit Islamists from pouring in from unvetted, war-torn, terrorist laden countries but the illegal decisions of smaller state courts are making law instead of enforcing it—he has done as much right, as he can.
Anything short of giving the neo-cons their escalating warfare will not get them on his side. Cicero and all of the smooth-tongued barkers in history could not win the support of the Washington evils-that-be. The only people even capable of being won over by clever rhetoric ( ethos, pathos or logos be damned) would be the populace, but with the megaphones of the MSM bleating 24 hours a day, unfounded, unverified claptrap and an apathetic citizenry too lazy to even TRY and confirm whether what they are being told is true or complete fabrication, the man really has only one avenue left–it is time to PUNCH BACK………
The globalists want the end of their biggest obstacle, a sovereign USA with citizens who retain a modicum of God-given rights still. If Trump does nothing else than buy us 4 years before the deluge truly rains down upon us, then call me an effin Trumpster………
Jive-lin, you were the one that got froggy with that ‘cut the shit’ talk. I didn’t say I had special optics. I don’t have the insight Scott has, I don’t see the things he does. He is watching his own movie.
You remind me of that Pogo quote: Having lost sight of our objectives, we redoubled our efforts.
I was addressing the question of whether Trump has risen to his level of incompetence and then you pipe in with your own incompetent insistence on the issues of the election. The election is over. The president is in over his head, barely able to handle one 20th of the issues at hand.
Go ahead, tell me again how he’s going to build the wall, drain the swamp…
EC,
you are not correct in your argument. For all we know,
Trump could shape-shift into a lizard and start eating
babies…but his dealings with Comey (master criminal
his entire career) are right on.
In case you would think, “what about firing Comey when
he was out of town = bad,” I suspect the method was right
on, because, Trump staff collected all his paperwork and
electronic data without undue hoopla.
Suzanna,
You left out the fact that all those files and records are now in the control of Mueller, who is as Deep State as they come. He was responsible for the 9/11 investigation…how did that turn out? 12 years as FBI Director under Bush and Obama, is he really a straight up guy?
javelin,
that is exactly right. Regan was a charming actor and
he was smiley guy full of platitudes. He was shot by the
“crazy” son of George Sr’s good friend, he could have been
killed.
Donald is tougher, and I think he will move to disrupt
the formerly tightly entrenched presently traitorous
factions.
First of all, Trump is already accused of using an “iron fist” in his dealings with everyone. Second to that, is it possible to “bestir the hornets nest in Congress” any more than it is already? As such, President Trump may as well really use an “iron fist” and get some things done (like LOTS of firings and open condemnation of obvious RINOs)……..’they’ can’t say anything worse than is already being said.
BSHJ, I used the term ‘bestir’ to understate the situation. My mind’s dick was mildly throbbing at the prospect of body-slamming your comment but I’m in a good mood today.
At least you’ve got hold of the butterfly of reality by a wing. Iska and Trapped are still flailing about with an empty net.
https://youtu.be/n_L4rkIibtE
EC….I really like the word ‘bestir’……and my thoughts were no reflection on yours, other than using your thoughts as a launch pad for my own. If you think otherwise, slam away……it is all pretty meaningless anyway.
This is a kinder, gentler TBP. Like I told Rdawg, the shiv ain’t out so long as I don’t talk about your momma. I am stating a point of view and welcome rebuttals. If Penforce and I have to fight all you meanies back to back, so be it.
It’s true: he did say that.
The MSM knows the truth about Trump.
And they will tell it to you.
Believe them, they do the thinking so you don’t have to.
They never twist distort or lie to promote some political agenda they hold.
If you’re not already on their side, jump on it quick while there is still time.
Yes Scott you have a short attention span. If you can listen all day to what you think is interesting, fine, so can everyone else. It’s called shiny things. Listening to what is important even if not interesting is the characteristic of a grown up. If you make a correct decision using only three per cent of the total facts and succeed, you aren’t competent, you’re lucky. I don’t want a lucky cowboy president. I’d like a competent, tactical leader that inspires and impresses his friends and his foes. I agree with El Brush Wolf and think his point of view is not so ignorant.
Brushwolf and Penforce, wrong today. This is stuff Adams gets completely. What is the skillset that people who rise to the top have? The ability to make good desicions quickly, under pressure, with incomplete information. Confidence to go with your instincts, and willingness to change course immediately if they prove to be wrong. Trump is as quick as they come. Javelin, we are back to the good old days. There were no indictments, until the day there was. Lots of things going on that we aren’t privy to. Patience is a virtue.
Oh, the eternal sunshine of the clueless mind. Starfuck reminds me of Old Phil’s story:
Jose – Have you noticed we haven’t been paid for a month?
Pedro- Yeah, but look on the bright side, at least we’re working.
Boys,
I’m red pilling myself to be 100% Trump for the duration.
What’s the line about judging a man by who his enemies are-look who is lined up against him.Judging by comments/philosophies regularly posted on this site,nearly every group or individual against him is our enemy.
It took awhile for me to come around and support Trump initially but once I did I was a 100%er.
After he lobbed the missiles into Syria I backed off but no more.
If Trump goes down,the Republicans lose Congress in 2018 and the White House in 2020.If that occurs we will never get the country back again.
The Democrats/press/ deep state have blatantly used government agencies to harass,prosecute and destroy freedom in this country so if they are put back into power why wouldn’t they just go ahead and finish the job?
Hate Trump,hold your nose,but support him and tell people why!
“If Trump goes down,the RINOs lose Congress in 2018…” As my buddy John said about motorcicle riding – it’s not a question of if, it’s when.
Members of his own party, and even his VP, are setting up the ‘exploratory’ committees in anticipation of 2020.
You know, if you say you took a red pill, we can assume you took it orally but if you red-pill yourself, it can only mean you took it rectally.
They’re wasting their time, if Trump is taken down there will never be a significant Republican party again and certainly not a Republican controlled Congress or President.
They’ve been given everything the claim they have needed to do the things they claim to represent, if they fail because they worked against the opportunity instead of taking advantage of it to do all the things they claim to stand for no one will ever believe them again.
NO matter how you cut it, the Democrats are better at being Democrats than Republicans are.
motorcycle
Thanks, nkit, but like Suzanna, I have to say this time it is a deliberate misspelling.
Rdawg said something about not wanting to ride a motorsickle, he wanted a pickle.
rectally,orally,vaginally–it all tastes the same–
think about that the next time you’re eating the entrails of a wittle wabbit tu murdered–
I’ve taken many online courses on female anatomy. It wouldn’t work.
However, women do devour men’s wallets with their vag.
It’s sink or swim time. If there is a problem with a plan, grab another. When he was surrounded, Chesty Puller said good, fire in all directions. When warned Mobile Bay was mined, Adm Farragut said damn the torpedos, full speed ahead. Gens Forrest and Patton knew offense was their best defense. We know the Traitors inside the walls are the liberals, NeoCons and RINOs; fire them all and attack the losers sniping at us from behind their moma’s aprin.
apron
Oh, that’s how we’re supposed to say it. Thanks again Ol’Pal.
EC,
we have to eat that 5# steak one bite at a time.
Relax. Then again, if you hate Trump/period…
you will keep the door locked regardless.
tubesteak
I’m not sure if you meant hotdog or an actual monster steak. I like a 6oz NY steak, I wouldn’t know what it’s like to eat a 5 lb steak.
Humans are basically a long worm outfitted with a support system and means of reproducing.
The closest I’ve ever been to politics is serving on a school board, so take this for what it’s worth. My career was in management and as I was gaining experience and ascending the short ladder it wasn’t so difficult to see who was successful. IMO the most successful leaders were those who were honest, had a sense of humor, even when dealing with difficult issues. Third and most important, they had a unifying vision that was communicated to everyone involved. Trump and honest? I have no judgement yet, time will reveal that question. I don’t know if the tax return thing is an honesty conversation. Sense of humor? I have witnessed nothing but sarcasm and name calling. Unifying vision? President Donald may say that “Draining the swamp” is a vision, but it sound more like a threat. Repeal and replace was a threat. Donald gathered his base and unified them with threats to tear down, not with ideas to improve. “Make America Great Again” is a campaign slogan, it isn’t a vision.
That’s the natural commencement of a career in local politics. Then it’s state politics.
Old “P” Bush just started off as TX land commissioner.
Trump and Carter started off at the top.
Carter was governor of Georgia
You just messed up a good argument with your inconvenient facts.
Penforce, good observations. He has a political facade that we voted for and he protects; but we’re now beginning to see the real POTUS. When his ratings get to low and his enemies score to many hits, he’ll try to repair the facade but we want the real McCoy. He’s the only horse we got and he’s trying to go left to please his daughter and banker buddies when we want him to go right and kick the crud out of them. I really believe Putin is a Statesman, hates the NeoCons and wants to help us. We have to many powerful enemies and an iffy hero. May God help US.
Motorcicle aprin. I think my mom wore one of those when she rode her Harley to town.
You mean her motorsickle aprin that she kept her brass knuckles in?