Smart Schmucks are Idiots

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On March 21, 2010, in Sales, by Brett Duncan

There are lots of people who are smarter than you. Sometimes, we get to/have to work with them. The “get to/have to” thing depends on our attitude about it all. Sometimes, we eagerly wave the white flag of ignorance and welcome an smart expert into our midst. Other times, our egos make us feel threatened and we want to make sure we’re the only rooster in our hen house.

Then there’s a third instance: someone who is smarter than you and they make sure you know it. Which isn’t smart. They’re condescending and belittling. They roll their eyes and laugh at your questions. They make you think they’re doing you a favor and they couldn’t care less if you say yes or no. This is their sales pitch.

Nobody Likes a Jackass

I’ve met guys like this, even recently. My experience tells me it’s often more a sign of insecurity than anything else. They might not be insecure in their skills, but maybe they just don’t know how to pitch what they do.

Regardless, it doesn’t work.

If we all believe that people like doing business with people they like, then it doesn’t matter how smart you are or how much you know about what you do: if you’re a schmuck, then nobody likes you. Which means nobody wants to do business with you.

So, when have you been in a similar situation? Sometimes you have to work with a schmuck. How do you deal with it?

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