As a framework for relating – or selling – to others, it does indeed work well to assume that other people are acting in their own self-interest and to align what you’re offering and saying with their core drivers. That’s why capitalism works: it never assumes the best about people. It knows that people en masse will predictably act in ways that are driven by greed, status, self-preservation,etc. So on that front, right on! You nailed it!

But as a framework for our own actions as people and companies, Maslowe was dead wrong putting “self-actualization” at the top of the pyramid, the old story of Narcissus is a CAUTIONARY tale, and the term “douchebag” was invented for a reason. Individually, if we give ourselves license to only consider our own interest, we will become monsters.

As a framework for relating – or selling – to others, it does indeed work well to assume that other people are acting in their own self-interest and to align what you’re offering and saying with their core drivers. That’s why capitalism works: it never assumes the best about people. It knows that people en masse will predictably act in ways that are driven by greed, status, self-preservation,etc. So on that front, right on! You nailed it!

But as a framework for our own actions as people and companies, Maslowe was dead wrong putting “self-actualization” at the top of the pyramid, the old story of Narcissus is a CAUTIONARY tale, and the term “douchebag” was invented for a reason. Individually, if we give ourselves license to only consider our own interest, we will become monsters.