To that end, I think BHO is privileged, but his American dream story is much more authentic than Ben Stein’s story. Also, BHO’s narrative offers a nice mix of merit & hard work & the acknowledgment of others (his mother, family, community). People stepped in to help him along the way and he admits it.

For the record, Bob Dole is an American hero. I have no issues with his story, either. Ben Stein as a workplace expert? No way.

If the American Dream and the pulling yourself up by your bootstraps is a myth in and of itself, who cares who is saying it? Privilege doesn’t come into play.

I think people are trying to fashion themselves into “work” experts when they are really just wealthy & successful in other areas of life (i.e., Jack Welch). I really hate when privileged people mix money and work together, too (i.e., Dave Ramsey). So I guess I called shenanigans because Ben is wealthy, successful, and privileged. Malcolm Gladwell debunks the pull yourself up by your bootstraps myth of America. Whenever someone tries to sell me that kind of advice (like Ben Stein) it bugs me.

I object to Freakonomics for a more strategic & scientific way of thinking about how the world works. I read Godin, begrudgingly, because I learn from him even though I disagree with the Tribes concept.

Ben Stein? No thanks.

i think there can indeed be an intersection in talent management or HR or recruiting between people issues and financial issues or economics. and having stein, or godin end up in the rankings… well, that’s the beauty of our process. you have a handful of us weighing on on the blogs that matter to us from a talent management perspective – and some of us infuse marketing blogs into the mix, others “finance” oriented blogs… because we view our work holistically. not saying stein or godin are folks that matter to me, but just explaining the process and how folks like that end up in the rankings.

happy sunday!