Funny thing about my career

The more I grow in stature, the more time I spend getting called a complete dumbass by strangers.

I say, if you want to grow up to become a celebrated grand strategist, get used to people telling you how stupid you are all the time.

Of course, it would get dull only being told how smart you are all the time, but still! I had no idea how dumb I was until I got famous for being smart.

Clearly, I encourage this through my accessibility, but I find it quite amusing.

I mean, for a guy who gets accused of having a big ego, I leave myself awfully open to a constant stream of derision from strangers commenting from the sidelines. It reminds me of those Peyton Manning commercials where he's a "fan" cheering people on at their day jobs. I mean, how many people openly encourage such criticism from non-professionals in their field?

Think about your own career. How cool would it be to get dozens of emails each day critiquing your performance at work by people who've never done what you do? Would you dig that? Or would it get kind of tiresome after a while?

I'm not complaining, just observing. I understand the reality of the tasks I set for myself. I get the unusual circumstances.

I just find the charge of "ego" (in most instances, a confusion with a persona people imagine they see on stage) rather odd, given my circumstances and my accessibility.

Just like I find the "ivory tower" descriptions so amusing, given my non-stop travel and interaction with operators in numerous fields in a rather in-depth advising role.

Blowing off steam, I guess. Enterra's just gone from a yea-big company to a many-multiples-yea-bigger-company, thanks to our landing a slew of new business in the past few days.

We are now executing like mad instead of being primarily in sales mode and the shift is exciting but jarring.

Be careful what you work for, I guess.

I suppose it's just the reality of seeing my senior managing director role skyrocket that has me bitching about the public persona.

Only so many hours in the day ...

Comments

[Anonymous]

the one that gets me on the ego and ivory tower charges is that you say your stuff in front of flags all the time. i'm guessing they call bs when they hear it...

[Adam]

Just do what I do when guests complain about the drink prices or when I don't scoop their popcorn perfectly - smile and ignore them.

[Dan Hare]

Tom,I also find it amazing how I find folks from both parties making similiar criticisms from what is obviously a very small reference point. It has taken me a bit to get my arms around your vision and in once sense it is simple: 'connect the disconnected', establish supply chains, FDI, build up a middle class and people tend not to shoot at each other in that environment.

I think you are a profit of our time.Keep up the good work!

[Hans Suter]

Tom, keep it up and going, please.

[robert sutton]

I would expect that the high number of people calling you stupid is largely a function of how outdated the conversation in the media/political arena is. Though I would still say that your writing style lends itself to this attack... I've forced several people to read your book and that was the biggest concern (aside from a general reluctance to admit that globalization is a good thing) they had. Essentially a more formal book would be understood less yet respected more; it is a balance that you may want to consider changing so that people wouldn't be so dismissive of your ideas on the basis that they aren't from a credible source. A baby step in policy, strategy, theoretical physics or whatever can be written like a good dinner conversation; but if you want to radically reorient the way people see the world, then you need to give them some reassurance, something to cling onto, so that they feel like your ideas could and should be accepted by a wider audience, and that they aren't just joining some cult of 90-110,000 people. That familiar thing they seem to need is the rigorous, formal, borderline pompous elitism that comes with writing books that flaunt how smart they are. I wouldn't worry about losing your (well deserved) great communicator status because you could still have your glossary with rule-set resets and all that...all that you'd really have to lose is... well... the "pissed off" stuff. Having said all that, I personally like your writing just fine the way it is, I'm merely commenting on the responses that I've come across so far (note: all the people who complained that your writing was too informal were born before 1970...unfortunately all the people born after 1970 who borrowed the book returned it three months later without having read it; though i convinced several of them to at least watch videos of the brief). ohh, and good response on the "ivory tower" charge, that one is unfair to apply to you for exactly the reasons you mentioned.

[Tom Mull]

Hey Tom: I would consider much of the criticism Second Rate Personality Syndrome. Second Rate Personalities cannot stand peers nor superiors--only inferiors. You make them feel bad by being better than them so they have to cut you down to below where they are instead of growing up to where you are. My step-dad told me when I was a kid to "just consider the source". That's still good advice. Be true to thy Authentic Self dude! =)

[Brian]

With this self-realization, you've now overcome the first obstacle necessary to become a politician. Let's hope you stop there. The second obstacle is the ability to ignore morals, values, and ethics, lol.

[Erik Nelson]

Tom,Hate to tell you but you had a big ego when you were 10. Keep doing what you enjoy it's the reason you're a success.

Happy Belated Birthday!

[Lexington Green]

Legitimate criticisms or counter-argument will be phrased in a civil way. I know you have seen some of that, too -- though it is much easier to just type something mean and click send. Anything coming in that is abusive in any way should get deleted immediately. It adds no value and is a waste of time and energy.

[farhad]

Dr barnett,i think personal attack of character is just avoiding the issuses.of course because of the "business" youare in,critisim or debating isessantial.as long as the moneyyou make dose'nt run the viewor affect your honest opinnionof the truth.eg) is globalizationabout 500 or so US big corprations&about 100 japanesor Eu corprations acsess to third countries markets becauseof race to the bottom(cheap labor),and margin of profit,or isit about developing the industries of these nations to be independant or be able to compete with industrialized countries (500 us&100 other big corpations.).this is a veryindept subject as you know,it has to do with where humanityas whole globaly is headed.ithink anybody who can see thatreality in honesty is the rightgrand strategist of our time.

[antonymous]

The only reason the "ivory tower" criticism rings true is because we live during some relatively anti-intellectual times. If you delve any deeper into any subject beyond a boilerplate write-up, you're opening yourself up to attack from all sides. It's just *so* easy to criticize and be heard these days, isn't it?

Semi-related note: I've been reading Obama's latest book, and one thing he makes note of in a chapter is the factual disconnect that has risen within the last 15 years or so. His point was, "How can we have a discussion, let alone a debate, when we can't agree on the basic facts?" Solid factual basis could be the first casualty of the 24-hour information age.

Ever wonder why people enjoy talking about sports so much? It's because every fan has the same ability to watch games, read about players, strategies, etc. Same experiences, same facts. But it's all laid out there: no mind-bending realities you and your bar buddy can't agree on (okay, maybe salary caps fit here). Despite everyone watching the same games, it's easy to form strong, albeit differing, opinions about teams and players. It's fun. With anything more political, it's too easy to cherry-pick information, and therefore, less enjoyable for most people to discuss.

[Nathan Brown]

For such a dumbass, you seem to be having some influence. Mitt Romney is essentially proposing a Department of Everything Else in his essay in Foreign Affairs. He wants all relavent civilian agencies reorganize into regional commands with one person in charge. And you already know that Guliani has been reading your book.

Foreign Affairs article:See Page 5, section "Rethinking and Reenergizing Civilian Capabilities

http://www.foreignaffairs.org/20070701faessay86402/mitt-romney/rising-to-a-new-generation-of-global-challenges.html

[CitSAR]

I sum it up to:

Anyone who believes deeply in something is an IDIOT to everyone else who doesnt. The everyone else who dont believe in what you believe are just CRAZY - not because they dare to disagree, but because they choose to remain consciously incompetent and ignorant of EVIDENCE...

[Irv]

There's a great book by Guy Kawasaki (former Apple executive) about being a true "revolutionary." He's got a great list of "Rules for Revolutionaries" and one of them is: "Don't let the bozos grind you down." Every time a revolutionary idea is proposed, the bozos come out of the woodwork and try to kill the idea. In fact, being attacked by bozos is a good indicator that you have revolutionary idea, otherwise they wouldn't bother to attack you. So, take heart and keep up the good work! Finally, please remember that you are making a difference, which is a dream for most of us policy wonks who just hope that someone, somewhere actually cares about what we think.

[Tom Barnett]

Thanks Erik. You were always the shrinking violet yourself.

Saw your mom at BHS after the Memorial Day service. Had a nice chat.

My best,

Tom

[Michal Shapiro]

Your language is definitely off-putting to some (my sister immediatey said- 'I like his ideas-- why does he have to write that way?"). But it's what attracted me; use of vernacular to talk about things I thought I couldn't understand, and finding that because of that vernacular, I could. So I'd rather understand, thank you.And Antonymous-- great analogy with sports-- I've often wondered why people can know SO MUCH about football, but choose not to know anything about politics. Wish there was a way to get people as passionate about something that affects them more than a game.