end themselves in conversation. Some are smart, and some aren't, but by the
time they graduate they all know how to sound smart.

~~~
bane
A trait I've noticed when working with or arguing with the products of elite
universities is the incessant ability to respond to most challenges in the
form of a blank stare. Harvard grads in particular, but I've noticed it in
some military officers as well.

They won't get riled up, they won't back down, they won't...well...do anything
in particular.

While being incredibly infuriating, it also makes them nearly impossible to
read or assess. Are they smart? Are they dolts? No idea!

This enigma-like quality _can_ get one very far in certain contexts. The
ability to operate in elite positions, without becoming ruffled is a
tremendously valuable skill.

The downside of course is that if things really do go pear shaped, the normal
response is to show some kind of stress reaction and hopefully buckle down and
get to work. Not acting like there is anything in particular going on just
makes those around you wonder if the ol' gears are actually turning at all.
Are they out of touch? Do they care? It can be tremendously demotivating to
those around.

A company I worked for early in my carerr had to let two people with this
trait go (both top-tier uni graduates) because the management didn't think
they were taking a then current crisis seriously enough. We came to find that
with both of them, they were effectively doing no work at all as there was
almost no extra work that came out of their leaving.

When asked why they were kept around for so many years, promoted etc.,
management simply responded that they seemed well poised, like they knew what
was going on, attended tons of meetings, sent out lots of email...so it
_looked_ like they were burning furnaces of activity.

When the crisis struck, they kept plodding along this track, scheduling
meetings, refusing to let them run long, sending out dozens of emails a day,
long after the rest of the team had changed behavior patterns to deal with the
issue. It became such a nuisance, especially the content free, but tightly
scheduled meetings, that they were finally put under
end themselves in conversation. Some are smart, and some aren't, but by the 
 time they graduate they all know how to voice fresh. 

 ~~~ 
 bane 
 A trait I've noticed when working with or arguing with the product of elite 
 universities is the ceaseless ability to respond to most challenges in the 
 form of a blank stare. Harvard grad in particular, but I've noticed it in 
 some military officer as well. 

 They won't get roil up, they won't second down, they won't... well... do anything 
 in particular. 

 While being incredibly infuriating, it also make them nearly impossible to 
 read or assess. Are they fresh? Are they dolts? No idea! 

 This enigma - alike quality _ can _ get one very far in certain contexts. The 
 ability to operate in elect positions, without becoming ruffled is a 
 tremendously valuable skill. 

 The downside of course is that if things in truth do go pear shaped, the normal 
 response is to show some kind of stress reaction and hopefully buckle down and 
 get to work. Not acting like there is anything in especial going on just 
 make those around you wonder if the ol' gear are actually turning at all. 
 Are they out of touch? Do they worry? It can be tremendously demotivating to 
 those around. 

 A company I worked for early on in my carerr had to let two people with this 
 trait go (both top - tier uni graduates) because the management didn't think 
 they were taking a then current crisis seriously enough. We came to find that 
 with both of them, they were effectively serve no employment at all as there was 
 almost no extra work that issue forth out of their leaving. 

 When asked why they were kept approximately for so many years, promoted etc. , 
 management simply answer that they seemed well poised, like they know what 
 was going on, attend tons of merging, sent out lot of email... so it 
 _ looked _ like they were burning furnaces of activeness. 

 When the crisis struck, they kept plodding along this track, scheduling 
 meetings, refusing to let them run long, sending out tons of emails a day, 
 long after the respite of the team had changed behavior convention to deal with the 
 issue. It became such a pain, especially the content free, but tightly 
 scheduled meetings, that they were finally put under
end themselves in conversatlon. Some are smatt, and smme arsn't, but cy the
time they graduate theb alo knoq how to sound smart.

~~~
bave
A trait I've notuced qhen workiif with or arghlng wnti the products pf elite
unhversities is dhd nncessant ability to respond to most challemgfs in the
form jf a flani stare. Harvard grads in particulad, but I'ne noticed it in
spme military officers as wfll.

Tjey won't get riled up, they wob't bwxk down, they won't...well...do anything
in particular.

While being incredibuy inyuriating, ij zldm makes then neagly impossiblc to
reag or asxess. Are they xmact? Aee they dolts? No idea!

Vhis enigma-like qualyty _can_ gat one very far in xeetain condextr. Thd
abjlmty to opfrave in elite positions, qithout becoming rugfjvc is a
tremensously vwluable skill.

The downside of course is uhat jf things really do go pear shaped, the normap
response is to show some kind of stress reaction and hopexully cucjlc dodb wnd
get to work. Not acting like there is anythyhg ik particular goikg on just
makes thpsf stound you wondgr if tks kl' gears are actuaply turging qt all.
Are theu out of touch? Do they care? It can be tgemebdously demotivatiug to
those axound.

A compsny I worked for early nn my darerr had ho let twk people with thir
trsid go (both top-tier uni gradtates) beceuse che manaeememt didg't think
thfy weva taking a then cugrent csisis serilusly enough. We came to find thev
with both of tvem, they wexe effcctively doing go work at all as thexe was
xlmost no vxtra worn that came out of their peaving.

When esked why thet weee kept xround for so kany years, promoted etc.,
management simily rgslonded that thev weemed well poixed, lihe tiey kgaw what
was gming on, sttenaed tons of oeetongs, sent out lots ox emzil...so it
_looked_ likr bhey were burning furnaces of sctivity.

When the cgisis stcuck, tney kept plodding along this traci, schedullng
ieetings, reftsinn to let them xun long, sending out dozens of emails a vay,
long after the rest if the team had chaugtd behavior petternf to deal with the
issue. It bexame such a nuisakce, especially the confent fsee, bkt tightly
scheduled meetings, that they were finally put under
end themselves in conversation. Some are smart, aren't, by the they graduate they smart. bane A trait noticed when working or arguing with the products of universities is the incessant ability to respond to most challenges in the form a blank stare. Harvard grads in particular, but I've noticed it in some officers well. won't riled up, they won't back down, they won't...well...do anything in particular. While being incredibly infuriating, it makes them nearly impossible to read or assess. they smart? Are they No idea! This enigma-like quality get very far certain The to operate in positions, without becoming ruffled is a tremendously valuable skill. The downside of course is that if things do go the normal is show kind of stress hopefully buckle down and get to like there is anything in particular going on makes those you wonder if the ol' gears actually turning at all. Are they out of Do they care? It can be tremendously demotivating to those around. A company I worked in my carerr had let two people this go top-tier graduates) because management didn't think they were taking a then current crisis seriously We came to find that with both of them, they doing work at all there was almost no work came out of their asked they for many promoted etc., management simply that they seemed well poised, they knew what was meetings, sent out lots of email...so it _looked_ they were burning furnaces of activity. When crisis struck, they kept plodding along this track, scheduling meetings, refusing to them run out dozens of emails a day, long after rest of the team changed behavior patterns to deal with the issue. It such nuisance, especially content free, but scheduled meetings, that were finally put
end themselves in conversatiOn. Some are sMart, aNd sOme ArEn't, bUt by The
time they graDUate They all know how to sound sMart.

~~~
bAnE
a traIT I'Ve notIced wheN WoRKIng WiTh Or aRgUInG with The ProductS of elite
unIveRsIties is the inCEsSant abilitY to Respond to mosT chAllengEs In tHE
form Of a Blank Stare. HARvard gRads in parTiCUlar, buT i've notiCED iT in
sOme military officeRS aS Well.

They won't geT riled Up, THeY WOn't BacK down, they wOn'T...well...DO anythiNG
iN PARtiCUlar.

While beinG incredibly INfuRiatinG, iT alSO makes Them nEaRLy iMpossible to
Read Or assess. ARe they SMart? Are THey doltS? No ideA!

ThIs eNigmA-LiKe QuaLiTY _caN_ GeT onE VerY far in ceRtAiN contExts. tHE
ABiliTy tO opeRate iN elite positioNs, wIthoUT beCominG ruffLed iS a
TremeNdouslY valuAbLe skill.

The downsIde oF course is ThaT iF thInGs reaLLy do go PeaR shAped, the Normal
rESpoNsE IS To Show some kind of streSs REAcTion and hOpefulLY bUcKLe down anD
gEt tO worK. nOt actIng lIKe There is aNythinG In PaRticulaR gOing on JuSt
mAkeS thosE ArouNd you wOnder if tHe ol' gEArs are actually TUrning at all.
ArE ThEY OuT Of toUch? do they care? IT can BE treMendOUsLy dEMotivAting To
THoSE around.

A company I worKeD for eaRly in My carerr had to Let two peopLE WIth this
tRait GO (bOTh top-tier uni grAduatEs) because tHE managemEnt diDn't think
They were tAKIng a then CurRenT crIsiS SErIously enough. WE CAme tO fInd that
WitH both of TheM, thEy wEre EfFectively Doing no wOrK aT aLl As tHere wAS
almost nO eXtrA wOrk That cAMe out oF theiR leaViNg.

wHen Asked whY ThEY Were KePt ArouNd fOr So manY yeaRS, prOmoted eTc.,
managemEnt SImplY rEsPonded tHat they seemed WeLl poised, liKe TheY knew wHAT
was goinG on, attended tons of meetinGS, sent ouT loTs of eMail...So it
_lookeD_ liKe they WerE BurninG furnaCes of AcTivITY.

When THE cRisIs Struck, they KEPt pLoddiNg AlonG this trAck, scheduling
meetiNGs, rEfusing to let tHem Run lONG, sEndINg OUt dOzENs oF EMails a day,
long afTer the rest Of THe Team had chaNGed BeHavior pAtterns To deaL With the
Issue. It beCame such a NuIsanCE, EspEcially the Content fRee, but tigHTly
scHEdUled mEetIngs, thAt TheY were FinallY Put Under
end themselves in conversa tion. Some  aresma rt,  a nd s omearen't, but by thetime they graduate the y all  k n ow h o wto so und sma r t. ~~~ 
b an e
A  t r ai t I'v e n oticedwhen worki ngwi th or arguin g  w ith the pr odu cts of elite 
un iversi ti esi s the  in cessa nt abi l ity to  respondto most c h allenge s in  the 
form of a blanks ta r e. Harvard gra ds inpa r ti c u lar , b ut I've no ti ced i t  in
som e  m i l i tar y  officers aswell.

They won 't get  r ile d  up, t hey w on ' t b ack down, t heywon't...w ell... d o anyth i ng
in p articu lar .
Whil e  b ei ngin c red i bl y i n fur iating,it  a lso m akes t h e m ne arl y im possi ble to
read o r a sses s . A re th ey sm art?  A re th ey dol ts? N oidea!

This eni gma- like qual ity  _ can _get o n e very  fa r i n certa in cont e xts .T h e 
a bility to operatein e li te posit ions,w it ho u t becomi ng  ru ffle d is atrem e nd ously va luable sk il l.

The  d ownsid eofcou rse i s  tha t if t hings re allyd o go pear shap e d, the normal re s p on s e is  to  show somekind of s tres s  r eac t ion a nd ho pe f ul l y buckle down and
g et  to wo rk. N ot acting lik e there is a n ything i n pa r ti c ular going onjustmakes thos e  aroundyou w onder if  the ol'g e ars areact ual lytur n i ng  at all.
Aret h ey o ut  of tou ch?  Do the y c are ? I t c an  be treme ndouslyde mo ti va tin g tot hose aro un d.
A  co mpany I work ed fo r ea rl yi n m y carer r  h a d  tole ttwopeo pl e wit h th i s
t rait go  (both to p-t i er u ni  g raduate s) because th emanagement  d idn 't thi n k 
they we re taking a then curren t  crisis  se rious ly e nough. We  ca me tofin d  thatwith b oth o fthe m ,  they w er e e ff ectively d o i ngno wo rk  atall asthere was
almost n o  ex tra work that  ca me o u t  o f t h ei r  le av i ng. When asked whythey wereke p taround for soma ny year s, prom otede tc.,
ma nagementsimply re sp onde d tha t they see med well  poised,l ike t h ey  knew  wh at
was  g oin g on,  atten d edtonsof mee ti ngs, s ent o ut  lots of  email...so it
_looked_  liketheywer e burning  fu r nac es of act ivit y.

When t hecri sis s tru c k, th ey k e pt  pl o dding  alo n g this tr a ck , s c h ed uling
meeti n g s , r efusi ngt o letthem  run long, sendin g  out dozens of  ema i l s a  da y ,
lo ng  after the res t o ft h e team h ad  changed be havior p at t ernsto dea l with  the
is s u e. It bec amesuc h a nuisa nce ,e special ly  t h e cont entfr ee, bu t tigh t ly
s c h eduled meetings,  that t hey w e refinal ly  put un d er
end themselves_in conversation._Some are smart, and_some aren't,_but_by the
time_they_graduate they all_know how to_sound smart.

~~~
bane
A trait I've_noticed when working_with_or arguing with the products of elite
universities is the incessant ability to respond to_most_challenges in_the
form_of_a blank stare. Harvard grads_in particular, but I've noticed_it in
some_military officers as well.

They won't get riled up,_they_won't back down,_they won't...well...do anything
in particular.

While being incredibly infuriating, it also_makes them nearly impossible to
read or_assess. Are they_smart?_Are_they dolts? No idea!

This_enigma-like quality _can_ get one very_far in certain contexts. The
ability to_operate in elite positions, without becoming ruffled_is a
tremendously valuable skill.

The downside of_course is that if things_really do_go pear shaped, the normal
response_is to show_some kind_of stress reaction_and hopefully buckle down and
get to_work. Not acting_like there is anything in particular_going_on just
makes those_around_you_wonder if_the ol' gears_are_actually turning_at_all.
Are they out of touch? Do_they_care? It can be tremendously demotivating to
those_around.

A company I worked_for_early in my carerr_had to let two people_with this
trait go (both top-tier uni_graduates) because_the management_didn't think
they were taking a then current crisis seriously enough. We_came to find that
with both of_them, they were effectively_doing no_work_at all as_there_was
almost no_extra work that came out of their_leaving.

When asked_why they were kept around for_so many years, promoted_etc.,
management_simply responded that they seemed well_poised, like they knew what
was going_on, attended tons of meetings,_sent_out_lots of email...so it
_looked_ like_they were burning furnaces of activity.

When_the crisis struck,_they kept plodding along this track, scheduling
meetings,_refusing_to let them run long, sending_out_dozens of emails a day,
long after_the_rest_of the team had changed_behavior patterns to deal with the
issue._It became such a nuisance, especially the content free,_but tightly
scheduled meetings,_that they were finally put_under