A634.3.5.RB_LarsonKurt, The Harder They Fall

As the title of the article by Kramer states “The Harder They Fall”, is an accurate depiction of those who basically get too big for their britches much too fast. Like the article discussed the career and life of Marjorie Peel who turned her back on her family and possibly more only to eventually fall from grace loosing everything tangible and intangible before, during and after the fall.

Winner Wants All

I to have seen those while in the military, the “golden children” destine to fame and fortune, rank and all the prestige that goes along side of it suddenly lost. Those “golden children” much like Marjorie, paid the ultimate price of rising to the top much too soon. Some have lost their careers, most their families and self-respect. All lost the resect and admiration of their peers, and for the rank and file brass… they became a mere causality, with another young and naïve “golden child” waiting in the wings for this one to fail so they may take their place. Never realizing that it is a long line with causalities and destroyed lives.

I have also witnessed those also while in the military and beyond become addicted to the pleasures and status that accompany those who have worked their way to the top by what ever means available, including the honorable, ethical and moral methods of hard work and perseverance, only to crash just like the rest because of an indiscretion, or getting caught with the office girls while traveling instead of their wife.

Sins of Omission

One individual (senior management) was forced to retire after a subsequent investigation of $500.00 was found to be missing from the organizational Sunshine Fund. The fund was used to send flowers from the organization for joyous and sorrowful life’s events of federal employees and their families. The individual who eventually confessed was a GS-14 director who threw away a lucrative career.

Rules Are For Fools

Highly successful military and airline pilots who have created themselves into a being that is above reproach and questioning, are typically the ones that when a mistake is made and the contributing factors have all aligned like a line drawn though the holes of several slices of Swiss cheese (affectionately called the “Swiss cheese model,” these individuals are found to be the biggest contributing factor to accident, loss of life and hull loss of aircraft. The theory of this is they are incapable of error “in the flight deck” and those who are forced to fly with these self proclaimed Titans, and are incapable or afraid of reporting because of the gap that exists between a seasoned pilot and a new co-pilot. They are afraid and uncertain of themselves to the point they might go blindly all the way to the scene of the crash, and never say a word.  All because the culture of an organization or flight deck is so prohibitive and intimidating to these up and coming individuals.