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# Day 2: CEOs are tiny babies
- URL: https://www.aliciamckay.co.nz/day-2-24-ceos-are-tiny-babies/
- Published: 2025-12-01T18:00:35.000Z
- Updated: 2025-12-02T20:12:29.000Z
- Description: And they don't even realise it.
- Author: Alicia McKay
- Tags: 🎄 24 Days of Unpopular Opinions

🎄

Welcome to [24 Days of Unpopular Opinions.](https://www.aliciamckay.co.nz/tag/24-days/) In this series, enjoy an advent calendar of daily hot takes to help you get through the silly season.

Many powerful people are tiny little babies. (We *all* are, but seeking and occupying a position of power makes you extra vulnerable.)

- Everybody watches what you do and say.
- People are sensitive to your moods, but not to your struggles.
- It's a lonely life, with few or no true peers.
- You're surrounded by people gassing you up.
- You are not buddies with these people. They have to laugh at your jokes.
- Your words and actions carry gravitas and people are nervous around you. You're not aware of it half the time.
- You did all this to prove how good you were and it hasn't quite filled the hole.
- Every thought bubble has the potential to become a major initiative, just because you opened your mouth... and that's not good for anyone.

To get the respect of a powerful person, don't buy into the hype. Tell them what they *need* to hear, not what they *want* to hear, and they'll appreciate you for it.

Or, they'll fire you / restructure you out of a job.

Merry Christmas.

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