A Recipe For Self-Hurt?
Is life a campaign? Chris Matthews, host of MSNBC’s Hardball, would like us to think so. Currently he is promoting his new book, Life’s a Campaign, in which he asserts we can learn some valuable life lessons from watching how politicians act in their political campaigns. If you are already feeling skeptical, don’t worry. You’re not the only one….
Life as a Campaign
Now, I want to pause here to say this article is based predominantly on what I saw in Chris’ appearance on the Daily Show with Jon Stewart (video below), as well as anything else I could find online (including the book’s introduction, a few other interviews, and some reviews). The Daily Show interview is a must-watch, as Jon Stewart does not hold back and quite bluntly tells Chris: “it strikes me as a self-hurt book.”
Chris writes in the introduction that this is a book about success. He wants to give you the secret to landing the job of you desire, selling products, and getting the girl or guy of your dreams. According to Chris, the four most important things that people can learn from successful politicians are:
- Be a good listener (Bill and Hillary Clinton are given as examples)
- Be optimistic (John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan are given as examples)
- Be good at asking for help
- Get people to invest in you
In my opinion, these four points are good. I would ask, though, are they something to be learned from watching a politician or are they something that can be seen in most successful people?
Character and Power
“Character, in the long run, is the decisive factor in the life of an individual and of nations alike” - Theodore Roosevelt
Towards the end of the interview, Jon makes a telling observation: the book seems to suggest people should do what is is necessary to win, rather than what is right (like a modern day version of Machiavelli’s “The Prince”). Chris makes an unconvincing response that both are necessary, but more revealing is his concession that the book is predominantly focused on winning and gives little attention to doing what is right.
It is my perception, then, that four decades of dealing with the country’s best politicians has led Chris to admire power more than character. Unfortunately, in many settings in society it is out of fashion to talk in terms of character - it is regarded as soft, touchy feely stuff. It would not surprise me if the host of a show called “Hardball” shares this sentiment.
To ignore character, though, in a discussion of success is a big mistake. In his book The 8th Habit, Stephen R. Covey writes that when 54,000 people were surveyed about what is the most important quality in a leader, the winner, by far, was “integrity”. Yes, it seems that fairness, honesty, respect, and contribution - all these things that make up integrity and character - do matter. As Stephen R. Covey writes in the same book:
“Many have come to believe that the only things we need for success are talent, energy, and personality. But history has taught us that over the long haul, who we are is more important than who we appear to be.”
Final Thoughts
I have no problem with the pursuit of winning, success, and riches. What I worry about, though, is what some people are willing to sacrifice in order to reach these goals. I don’t completely agree with Jon Stewart’s description of the book as a recipe for self-hurt, but I do believe that any discussion of success that ignores the importance of character is ultimately flawed.
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9 Comments
October 11th, 2007 at 3:58 pm
Self-hurt…that is too funny. I suppose when self-help is too superficial, it ends up more like self-hurt. Nice critique.
[Reply]
October 11th, 2007 at 4:15 pm
Hi Peter:
I agree with your assessment of this situation and want to point out an even deeper problem with the “success = winning” mentality - the issue of meaning and purpose.
Here’s the big question:
If one thinks that being successful is synonymous with winning or achieving goals, then what happens when one achieves all of one’s goals and wins all of the trophies? In other words, if life is focused on attaining success, what is there to live for once you’ve succeeded?
In his autobiography, astronaut Buzz Aldrin said that after walking on the moon, everything else in life seemed insignificant. How sad is that? To reach your highest goal and have life lose all of its flavor.
-Patrick
Life Coach For Personal Development
[Reply]
October 11th, 2007 at 4:20 pm
[...] Admin wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptCurrently he is promoting his new book, Life’sa Campaign, in which he asserts we can learn some valuable life lessons from watching how politicians act in their political campaigns. If you are already feeling skeptical, don’t worry. … [...]
October 11th, 2007 at 4:54 pm
Thanks for the comments guys.
Alex: you can thank Jon Stewart for the “self-hurt” term. I thought it was hilarious myself (like much of what Jon has to say).
Patrick: I agree. The example of what Buzz Aldrin had to say really drives home your point. Good one.
[Reply]
October 11th, 2007 at 5:01 pm
You know, the sad thing about that integrity thing is that it’s just what people say they want. History has shown, repeatedly, that what they really want in a leader is someone who wins, as long as that person doesn’t violate TOO many of their (the average person’s) principles/beliefs.
And that’s not just in politics, it’s in business, too, and probably in any other group of sufficient size.
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October 11th, 2007 at 6:01 pm
I guess I feel like politicians lack integrity and character these days. Consequently, I would never emulate a politician’s campaign in an effort to improve my life. Covey’s quote that you used above talks about how “over the long haul, who we are is more important than who we appear to be”, and I completely agree with that. Going back to considering a politician and their campaign… nothing about them or their belief system is who they really are. It’s all about appearances.
I haven’t seen Jon Stewart in a long time. I miss that show. Nice post.
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October 11th, 2007 at 9:10 pm
Great video and post, Peter. Thanks. Does anyone believe that whichever politician wins she/he can lead the country wisely?
Patrick,
Dave Schoof over at Engaging the Disquiet deals with men who have achieved success and feel empty. It’s a real problem.
[Reply]
October 11th, 2007 at 11:17 pm
matthews is an elitist bleeding hearty lib,part of the mainstream media attack on goodness, morality,defense and low taxes
[Reply]
October 12th, 2007 at 5:44 am
[...] Peter wrote a fantastic post today on “A Recipe For Self-Hurt?”Here’s ONLY a quick extractI don’t completely agree with Jon Stewart’s description of the book as a recipe for self-hurt, but I do believe that any discussion of success that ignores the importance of character is ultimately flawed. [...]
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