The Wall Street Journal's "Careers" column today measures the influence of business gurus. Using a complicated metric involving "googling people" and also "looking people up in Nexis," they have determined and ranked the most influential business thinkers in the universe. Number one is some dude named Gary Hamel who writes terrible books your boss probably reads, if you work for an asshole. BUT: the second-most-influential business thinker in the world is Thomas fucking Friedman, which is probably why we're in a recession. He has a new book out this summer! It's called Hot, Flat and Crowded, which is clearly something a made-up cab driver said to him about India. [WSJ]
'Wall Street Journal' Ranks the First Five Against the Wall
11:08 AM on Mon May 5 2008
By Pareene
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I have this rule: that I don't take business advice from self-appointed "business gurus" who have never exhibited any success in the business world.
So far, so good. I can just about reliably make rent every month now.
I'm worried about the future of the WSJ if they're already cutting back on running photos and now relying on grainy photocopies of thumbnail sketches.
And two of these five have moustaches. What is going on?
@VirusWithShoes: Ugh, the neatly-trimmed business mustache. It screams: you can trust me -- I'm about as fun and adventurous as a family vacation to Disney.
@VirusWithShoes: And one of these is responsbile for WIndows Vista.
Malcolm Gladwell?? I'm speechless.
I like Malcolm Gladwell. Though, I'm still not sure if I'm supposed to or not.
This is a rogue's gallery of tragic grooming and personal style choices.
I'm surprised My Cock isn't up there.
@TheHonJudgeSmails: Family vacations to Disney aren't fun and adventurous? Why hasn't this appeared on any of the advertising I've seen? Are you sure?
@SarahHeartburn: Yeah - and Gladwell's "I'm Individual!" mop was responsible for a multitude of driver issues too.
Look, if this list was accurate, I'd drive as fast as I could into a concrete barrier. Because the world's automobiles would have no turning or stopping ability.
"We are about to see creative destruction on steroids."
He totally cribbed that concept from The Big Lebowski nihilists.
No Stephen Covey or Donald Trump? This list is bogus.
@rosaluxembourgeoise: Funnily enough, Joseph Schumpeter was known as "The Dude" by his secretary and driver. And his rug totally tied capitalism together.
What's a 'business thinker?' Why do they wast their time business thinking when Suri might any day be sucked into a counter-textual Scientology vortex?
@VirusWithShoes:
Also, his hate-fuelled, trans-Atlantic bowling tournaments against John Maynard Keynes were legend, back in the day.
@rosaluxembourgeoise: I heard he used to guffaw at Keynes' attempts to count his gutter-balls as something meaningful.
Their darts tournaments are rarely spoken of these days, for obvious reasons.
@VirusWithShoes:
Say it, there's no shame: darts had them agreeing that the rise of an increasingly well-educated middle-class would promote democratic socialism!
Then Keynes would get embarassed and drunkenly slur: "Shut the fuck up, Joey!"
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