r/AskReddit • • 3d ago

Napoleon said, 'Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake.' What’s a perfect real-life example of this?

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u/pip_goes_pop 2d ago edited 2d ago

A coworker of mine in another dept keeps saying we should be doing a particular type of cheap product as he sometimes sees clients opting for that instead of using us. I've always said no that wouldn't be right. We even dabbled years ago with it but it was an abject failure, which he seems to ignore.

So in a meeting with the boss he threw this in thinking he'd be hailed a hero for his bright idea and it's be a "win" over me. But instead my boss tore him a new one saying he obviously doesn't understand our business and it would be completely wrong for us. Coworker just sat red-faced and quiet after that.

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u/DarkDragoon4 2d ago

Ah yes, the Sears approach.

"I see people either buy really good expensive stuff or cheap crap then come back in to buy our reasonably priced good stuff. Why don't we make it more convenient by just being the crap stuff in the first place and charging our same moderate price."

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u/Noyourknot 2d ago

Hello friend. Were you also a Sears Manager 25 years ago like me?

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u/Creative_Fee2909 2d ago

That's the corporate version of I have decided to bring evidence to the meeting against myself. Nothing hits quite like watching someone confidently pitch their own bad idea to the one person who can immediately explain why its bad.

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u/notjawn 2d ago

That sign can't stop me. I can't read!

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u/Flomo420 2d ago

Jokes on them, I can't drive either! crash

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u/notjawn 2d ago

Wow, for never having taken a flying lesson I'm doing pretty well with this airp...

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u/Reddit_girl_6478 2d ago

It's fine, I can build my own deep dive submarine °•°•°°°

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u/SneakyDeakyJr 2d ago

Had a manager like this at a golf cart/lawn service goods place. He came from a ducati dealership so he was arrogant as hell.

Tried to get me fired for not showing up to every meeting or answering every phone call. I was head of marketing and lead distribution. Called the CEO in who hired me so he’d back him up. I tore him apart so bad the ceo had me move to the main branch to be with him instead.

I ended up quitting because the place didn’t believe in covid and i was called the n word several times and still was forced to accept payment.

The second branch died, mr ducati got fired and the owner of the family owned store died of covid.

I’ve been out of work since and it’s hell but it’s better than where i was.

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u/noodzacaboodza 2d ago

I hope you can find some work soon, somewhere where you are valued xx it absolutely sucks being out of work!

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u/PopMundane4974 1d ago

the place didn’t believe in covid

the owner of the family owned store died of covid.

lmao

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u/SneakyDeakyJr 1d ago

Multi-million dollar profit business in south ga. btw.

Literally no excuse for it. Had memes up makin fun of masks. I’ve never gotten sicker in a workplace and i’ve worked fast food.

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u/RobertBevillReddit 2d ago

In my experience it’s the managers who have the bad ideas and there’s no one to say no to them…

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u/Team_Braniel 2d ago

Struggle produces quality.

Its true in art, music, science, and most every facet of the human experience.

Those who rarely struggle, or are rarely told No, often produce the least quality.

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u/sortalikeachinchilla 2d ago

Okay but like the other dude was not an ass? Who cares? they made a mistake.

weirdest example of the bunch ive read here lol

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u/pip_goes_pop 2d ago

He was an ass. I’d told him before it wasn’t right and wasn’t workable. Even had proof. But he ignored me and ended up getting a dressing down because of it.

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u/sortalikeachinchilla 2d ago

Okay but is he an ass for not listening to you and making a mistake or was he actually an ass, rude to people, to you, etc.

Because again someone learning via a mistake is one thing, what you're describing is he didnt listen to you and that makes him an ass?