We all have that friend, peer, boss, employee, associate…you know, the guy who always knows how everyone should do everything, how to run every company and every country, the space program and so on. He’s worse than an armchair quarterback and even as a Monday morning quarterback, he often loses the game. But he’s still our friend, peer, boss….

God knows Seattle is full of folks like him. Everyone I speak to who is even a bit affiliated with the tech world seems to know how to run Microsoft better than SteveB. Many of them are his employees, others the beneficiaries of Microsoft’s profits. Still others know exactly how Steve Job could have avoided antenna gate and also know exactly how Google should branch out into other areas in search of super-profits.

Most of these folks also know how to balance the State’s budget deficit and how to deal with Al Qaeda.

And some have ideas on how to revamp healthcare.

Okay fine you get it.

Arrogant pricks right?

Yeah, well, sure. But here’s the deal: How do we find the 1 out of 1000 ideas that is really revolutionary unless we go through the torture of listening to the other 999?

When the Mahatma devised (and lived) a creative strategy to remove the colonial yoke from 350M Indians, was it arrogance?

On a lesser note, when Bill Gates ran against the castle of IBM, was it arrogance?

In both cases, yes.

In both cases, thanks for doing it.

Thereby hangs the tale of arrogance. It is truly a mixed blessing.

So the next time Prick boy starts yammering away, listen. Oh and take copious notes.