Chip On Your Shoulder

Grew up on the wrong side of town. Didn’t go to a prestigious institution. Didn’t get an offer from your ideal firm or industry. Lehman 2008 SA Class. Whatever it is, there are life experiences that give people chips on their shoulders.

Yesterday I was having a conversation with a good friend and coworker about this topic, and specifically how when someone has a chip on their shoulder, it drives them to do very well. This is antidotal but makes sense: when someone is unhappy with their situation and is able and willing to change it, they do. In your life an experience, how have you seen this play out?

Additionally, while angst can be used to drive, it can lead to blindness and other hindrances. Glucksman went for the throne at Lehman because he felt the traders were not getting their deserved recognition and ended up bringing down the firm. Kravis grossly overpaid for RJR so someone else would not make headlines for performing the largest LBO in history. Jeff Skilling wanted to be extremely rich, so he created a company that became a leader in its industry, and now Enron is synonymous with corporate fraud and greed.

I assume there are a decent amount of readers here, and people in finance, that have a chip on their shoulder, no matter how small or if they recognize it. I know I do, and acknowledging it allows me to try to channel it to drive me and use it productively. I am wondering if there was a way I could do so more effectively. Any thoughts, advice, or stories?