Looters, Moochers and Titans
January 29th, 2008 categories: Just Because
Ayn Rand’s, Atlas Shrugged, paints an eerily familiar state of affairs, related to man, society, and the sad but true nature of the “collective whole.” Although written more than fifty years ago, her philosophy related to capitalism and the perils of compromising the “free-market” and “free-thinking,” clearly ring true today.
Particularly interesting (to me at least) is her labeling of two distinct parasites of society, Looters and Moochers. As defined in Wikipedia:
“The looters are those who confiscate others’ earnings “at the point of a gun” (figuratively speaking) —often because they are government officials, and thus their demands are backed by the threat of force. Some looters are following the policies of the government, such as the officials who confiscate one state’s seed grain to feed the starving citizens of another state; others are exploiting those policies, such as the railroad regulator who illegally sells the railroad’s supplies on the side. The common factor is that both use force to take property from the people who produced or earned it, and both are ultimately destructive.”
“The moochers are those who demand others’ earnings because they claim to be needy and unable to earn themselves. Even as they beg for their help, however, they curse the people who make that help possible, because they hate the talented for having the talent they don’t possess. Although the moochers seem benign at first glance, they are portrayed as more destructive than the looters-they destroy the productive through guilt and often motivate the “lawful” looting performed by governments.”
Looters, as much I detest the breed, are par for the course – assuming you’re talking about some corrupt government official (which they all are), that at 9am, signs a bill to fleece the high achievers or “Titans,” and at 9pm, signs a check to his prostitute (which will bounce, and be paid for by those he just fleeced). Moochers however, are the Antichrist of free thinkers and Titans, where the very nature of their existence seems evil. Rand holds that “evil is a parasite on the good and can only exist if the good tolerates it.
Creatives are not Titans.
In order to avoid any confusion, the term “Creative,” for the purpose of this piece, is intended to personify the common “service provider” (within any sector or discipline), who unintentionally (yes, they don’t actually know it), attempt to claim the Titan’s unique inspiration as their own, or worse… actually believe they made it better.
The most dangerous mistake a Titan can make is buying into the idea that “their” creativity needs further creative influence. Being creative is a foundational attribute of the titans of industry – because there is a connection to the subject of their creation. Without a keen sense of distinction, it is easy to mistake the benefits of a symbiotic relationship with other great Titans for a parasitic one. In using Creatives, it’s important to realize that you are contracting with specialists in the creative arts, as tools – not masters. You’re the Michaelangelo, and they are the chisel – don’t confuse the two. If you do, you’ll quickly spiril down the staircase of collective mediocrity.
I recently exiled a moocher from one of our companies, not realizing that this parasite has been feeding so long. I have no one to blame but myself, being that parasites cannot exist without a willing host.
Artists have their place, and when true to form, uniquely inspired, can be the Titans as well. However, self-proclaimed Creatives, as parasites, are not Titans, because they lack independent thought, and instead, attach to the dreams of those who do – only to jumble the purity of another’s magnificent inspiration, and misappropriate it as their own. This cycle completes itself when the Creative regurgitates it back to the Titan/inspired thinker, claiming that the new collective inspiration is better than the initial inspired thought. Now, remember – this can only happen if the good (selfish free-thought) tolerates the collusion of the evil (collective mediocrity searching for a purpose).
Creatives or Moochers (one in the same), will always be present around free-thinking Titans – remember, because “they hate the talented for having the talent they don’t possess.” Now I’m sure you must be saying to yourself…”how can someone who is creative not be creative, or be useful at some level – and does that mean we dont need anyone else to help us grow and develop, or to be successful.” NO, we don’t! Labeling yourself as a Creative is akin to calling yourself a Star. If you’re a star, someone else or a group of someone else’s will recognize your achievements as “hightend” or “extraordinary,” and will in turn be inspired by your achievement alone, rather than the delusion that they were a collective contributor.
We are inspired by like greatness, and if that solicits the particular-exclusive talents of another, within their particular area of expertise (marketing, sales, strategy, statistics, deal-making, operations, design, leadership), than we become free, to create, individually, and along-side of one another. This method of “Titan Fraternity” does not allow for any parasitic attachments, and if you are lucky enough to join the club, never compromise your inspiration for another’s, or you’ll fast be thrown out. Remember to always check your skin frequently.
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I wanted to take a time, before I comment this fascinating article.
I would like to share just one thought here.
Some Titans are meant to carry very heavy “baggage” just like the one on the picture above.
They are Titans just because of the fact, that when everybody around thinks they will eventually give up and fully kneel,they won’t, just like the one above, with one knee on the ground, they gather the strenght and always get up and move ahead, without ever fully kneeled down.
Just a thought.
It is fantastic and inspiring post.