Marco Landi is 78 years old. He is famous for having been the president and general manager of Apple at one point and for bringing Steve Jobs back to the company who had been ousted years earlier; and has done and continues to do a lot of other things in the field of technology. About Italian startups he says that we are taking out the best, that investors are acting as if they are banks that have to lend, like sharks; and that institutions just make announcements. It tells the story of a young man who was looking for a hand for a patent but was told “you are too young” and now has a company that flies to the United States. Marco Landi’s words are like stones and yet they will not change anything. There is no venture capitalist who says “it’s true, I admit it”, but neither who tries to refute the accusations: ignoring and going straight is always the best communication strategy.
Not just for startups: a couple of weeks ago a research institute published a large study on the dreams, fears and hopes of young people. When asked about trust and credibility, it turns out that journalists are at the bottom of the list. It was known that we were at the bottom but that we were also the category that lost the most positions during the pandemic is a surprise. But how, with all the colleagues who have worked risking contagion? With the direct made with the mobile phone, with the rooms of the house transformed into a radio or TV studio in order to continue to provide information? With all that, the worst. Again: reactions? comments? self-analysis? claim of merit? Nothing. Ignore and go straight.
These are just two examples of a phenomenon that affects everyone. We do not accept criticism, we are unable to handle negative feedback, we feel untouchable, perfect or, even if imperfect, in credit with the world and therefore safe from everything. Look at the teachers: at the end of such a difficult year there is someone who admitted “sorry, we could have done more. we will learn to teach better “? Nobody.
Because we are the ones who always say “we do not take lessons from anyone” when instead we should all know how to take lessons, if not from someone, at least from life.
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