If you have no enemies does it mean you are a failure of a person?

[exitseven]

The expression "nice guys finish last" is something I always think about. All the very successful people I know are real bastards and have lots of people that hate them. Can you be successful without pissing off a lot of people?

[OlderAndWiser]

Depends. . . how do you define "success?"

[DishLady]

I feel I’ve been pretty successful in life — perhaps not from a financial perspective, but I’ve made a solid impact for sure. Am I friends with everyone? No. Am I enemies with anyone? VERY rarely if at all. I rather cut my losses with a person than to openly have enemies. There’s a longer list of “persona non grata” than there is of people I would say I hate (0).


On the other hand, if someone hates me that is their personal choice and not necessarily something I can fix or control at all.

[Chazmatazz269]

No. While it is often true that “nice guys finish last”, our definition of “success” in the west is closely tied to mental health issues that present, in part, as greed. In the same way an addict is compelled to seek out drugs or alcohol, “successful” people seek wealth and/or power. Just like an addict, enough is never enough. They always want more and the same dose as last time will cease to ease their yearning. Also just like addicts, their compulsions and corresponding personality defects will drive away the good people in their lives. Leaving them to other users, literally and figuratively.
Greed is a mental defect. We might be able to do something about it if we stopped admiring and enabling greedy people just because they are rich.

[Lliam]

Winston Churchill supposedly said "You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life". He may have gotten that line from Victor Hugo.
The problem is, Churchill was a horrible person.

If successful people have enemies, it means that they have fucked people around in their quest for success.
It is hard to become extremely successful in business without being a cold-blooded, self-serving ass hole.

But I don't think every successful person is that way. For instance, I can think of very wealthy entertainers who, by all accounts, are really good people.

[loveslongnails]

" All the very successful people I know are real bastards and have lots of people that hate them." ---- Why is it no surprise that ALL, yes you said ALL, the successful people YOU know are bastards hated by many? Maybe it's your definition of successful, and just as likely it's those you look up to?

" Can you be successful without pissing off a lot of people?" - I won't even ask you to define "successful", but rather, start with an easy one: how many is a "lot of people"? lol

[choco-latte]

I know people who have moderately good businesses and they don’t have any enemies. Not all of them are assholes. Maybe the super rich people, but you don’t have to be a billionaire or millionaire to be successful.

[jshm2]

LOL, you're conflating two different things.

The "nice guys finish last" expression alludes to sexual partners. It means that being all nice and gentlemanly towards the opposite sex will not get you anything but sloppy seconds - if anything.

Business and career success, on the other hand, is very different. If you piss off too many people, or the wrong kind, then your stay at the top will be very short.

[purplepoppy]

A man is not judged by how high he climbs but by how many he stepped on to get there.

[midnightmoon05]

We can’t please everyone and shouldn’t.
hapoy to have enemies. Wonder who would want to waste their time hating me.. I guess I will never find out.
Does that mean I am successful? I don’t know.

[TrueConfection]

I can’t imagine you have any “enemies” and you are very successful in your family and your career. I think you have proven that cliché to be garbage.

[exitseven]

I am far from wealthy in a monetary sense.

[TrueConfection]

Most people have to work for their money, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t successful in their career.

[MrChinaski]

If you have a narrow definition of success, like money, and are willing to throw away pursuit of other objectives, like caring for people, then you'll probably end up with more money and fewer people that care for you. Life is trade offs.

[Bricealan]

@exitseven Well, 'exit'... I consider myself a successful person and have ALWAYS been a flaming asshole!!! LOLOL🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣😂

Well, honestly, really successful people usually have done things they regret later.

[InknKink]

When you have things other people want or covet, you get hated on for the simple fact you have obtained something others don't posses. You cannot be successful without pissing some people off.

[lightbulb27]

no, it means you are dead.

sadly, real idiots can be very successful as they get away with screwing people. So reward those whom are nice, compassionate and have empathy.

[Just_Ken]

Nice guys finish last, awesome guys finish on her face.

Any enemies i had i have i crushed. Those that saw know not to f*ck with me and mine.

[Anonymous]

Depends on why you have no enemies if you just wipe them out then you could arguably be very successful and have none

[strateguy632]

Yes. Any reall acomplishment will only be liked by some.

[Kvass]

It means you either haven't lived hard enough or tried to surpass anyone.

[AviatorTom]

I wouldn't know. I have a few enemies, and I am not a failure.

[canamlusciouslad73]

Or you're very sheltered

[robocop666]

Trump has always had enemies

[Chazmatazz269]

It’s time to disconnect. Your TDS is out of control. There is literally nothing political about this question. Yet you had to bring up Drumpf. That’s a sign of mental illness. Log off and seek professional help.

[robocop666]

@Chazmatazz269 no he says it himself in his books. people always hated him. cause he was successful.