from PSYCHOPATHS
to SOLOPRENEURS:
WHAT I LEARNED
ABOUT BUSINESS
from the CRIMINAL
UNDERWORLD
by Cat Paterson
W
hat does the term psychopath immediately conjure up for you. A less than
human being existing on the periphery
of society? a serial killer or narcissist perhaps? but
definitely someone that wouldn’t ever cross your
path or share a chat with over a pumpkin-spiced
latte, reserving their presence for CSI episodes
only.
Balloon...pop!
In a previous life I certainly came across more than
my fair share (I’m an ex-intelligence analyst by
trade who worked in the covert world of criminals
analysing their modus operandi) but weirdly, or
more unsettling, is that psychopaths walk amongst
us in all shapes and sizes. every. single. day.
Have I got your attention now? Good.
There’s a long list of typical traits that psychopaths
are measured by some of which are; grandiose
sense of self-worth, manipulative, tendency to
boredom, impulsive, lack of long-term goals.
Wait a minute. Wh, wh, what?! I know entrepreneurs and business owners just like that...eek!
Yeah, do you have ass sweats and a chill down your
spine yet?
ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM
How similar are these traits to some of those socalled entrepreneurial guru’s you fraternise with,
have parted with you hard-earned cash to learn the
latest blueprint for success from, drawn in by their
oh so appealing sales page. Do you follow them
online, wishing you had their success or... have you
recognised yourself in that list. Waaahhhh, scary!
OK so I’m not saying you and all solopreneurs,
entrepreneurs or whatever the heck label they
have bestowed on themselves are suddenly shoved
unceremoniously into the same psychopathic boat
(phew!) but it’s worth a bit of self-awareness and a
good dose of self-regulation not to become one of
‘those guys or gals’...isn’t it?!
Or, are some of these traits actually an advantage
in the business world?
Driven to win, impulsive and the ability to infiltrate a community for their own ends (we’ve all
seen the thinly veiled spam facebook posts that are
more sales-y than a sales-y thing!)
Business is a tough gig isn’t it but if we don’t inject
who we are at the heart of it into the core of our
business what is the blinkin’ point?
Knowing more about who you are (psychopath or
otherwise - I’m not judging) at the core of your
business is an amazing font of knowledge you can
draw on and drink from time and time again.
Even if you have previously fallen prey and
whipped out your credit card for a magic elixir
promised by an entrepreneur with psychopathic
tendencies (laughs uncontrollably using evil plan
laugh with pinky attached to bottom lip) and got
nowt in return, there is an alternative. Hoorah!
Investing in YOU first and foremost is the key to
creating your own unique snowflake success in
business.
When you understand you at the core of your
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