Mar 23, 2025
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The Phynodderree, and other legends of the Isle of Man. 1882.
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The Phynodderree, and other legends of the Isle of Man. 1882.
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Bad Blood by John Carreyrou, Re-read Week 8, Chapter 10: Who Is LTC Shoemaker
Bad Blood by John Carreyrou, Re-read Week 8, Chapter 10: Who Is LTC Shoemaker
We are re-reading Bad Blood, Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup by John Carreyrou (published by Alfred A. Knopf, 2018 – Buy a copy and read along). Chapter 10 focuses on what when Hollywood makes a movie from Bad Blood will be a titanic battle between the indomitable Elizabeth and what a career military officer, but what is really a struggle between right and wrong. In the chapter,…
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The Thing About Over Promising....
It's happened to all of us. There are times in life when something has been promised but for whatever reason it doesn't materialize.
It often starts early when a parent promises a child something but can't deliver. It could be the toy you wanted so badly for the holidays and didn't get. Maybe the store ran out. Perhaps your Mom or Dad had no intention of getting it for you. Or there just wasn't enough money that particular holiday.
Then you move into your teen years where you too get into the over promising fray. We've all done it. Do you remember, "we'll be best friends forever," or "I will never love anyone besides you Bobby/Jimmy/Tyrone." It's innocent enough. At that age we have no idea that our friendships will run their course or as you get older you'll find more fulfilling relationships. Regarding Bobby, Jimmy and Tyrone that is also quasi innocent. At the time all we can see is the person right in front of us. We have no idea that a world of experiences and deeper love is out there.
Once we reach adulthood that's when it get a little tricky. For the sake of argument let's say that adulthood means anything post-22. I've selected that age because at 18 I was still wet behind the ears. One also has a year of "legal" drinking under their belt and I feel that's a necessary element to understanding the world. More on that in another post.
So you're an adult. And you continue to over promise to people. "Yeah man, let's get together really soon," or "Sure boss I can finish that presentation by 5pm," or "Of course I love you." But the thing about it is there has been a shift. Not only can you be disappointed but you can potentially disappoint other people. Some may say, "Who cares. That's life." That's definitely one way to look at it. Or we could take the more responsible approach and not promise things that we can't deliver.
Over promising can be seen in different areas of life. It can be seen in work. There's the promotion you are promised that either never comes or when it does is not what you expected. The over promising between two individuals in a relationship is too loaded to discuss here. But if you've been responsible for breaking someone's heart you know where I'm going with that. Conversely if you've ever had your heart broken then you also know.
One can also look to the promises that government makes to serve and protect the people. Many are left feeling jaded these days. They feel those who are supposed to advocate for them are only concerned with their own self-interests. Like the family who is trying to make ends meet every day. They don't want to hear about a candidate's dirty laundry. People want to hear plans for how a candidate plans to make their daily lives better or that relief is coming. But it's a double edged sword. Because the very things a candidate may "promise," they may not be able to deliver.
This is not to say that we shouldn't expect more or better of/for ourselves. I absolutely believe in the American spirit. I believe this is still one of the greatest countries in the world. But what I don't believe is that we should continue to fool ourselves. I don't believe we should continue to ignore the things that are right in front of us. It's time to take the wool from over our eyes and see that we are in trouble individually and as a nation. When we can accept that and begin to have honest conversations perhaps then we can truly start to make change.