I just finished reading an article by Jack and Suzy Welch.

It dealt with a most interesting phenomenon:
The one-time “star” who is no longer willing to carry his or her own weight. The star is someone who may have played an important role in the formation of a company. Maybe it was a brilliant idea, hard work and dedication or a benchmark achievement of some kind which was a great contribution to the success of the company…

The problem is it happened years ago. Because of the accomplishment he or she was given special accord…an almost sacred “insider” position with the organization. Long after the contribution has passed, that individual now just occupies space. Contributes little or nothing to the challenges being faced today. Because of an attitude of entitlement the former star is beginning to “vampire” the energy of his or her co-workers.

It’s the old case of someone trying to get by on their laurels.

Because they did something big, once, they assume their place in the company is assured…Even when their attitude has become disruptive, negative and breeds a growing cynicism amongst co-workers.

Jack and Suzy, call this type of person a “slider”. They slide from the height of success. Once the slide begins it’s seldom reversed. It becomes dangerous when it begins influencing co-workers. A “slider” can destroy an organization… It’s just a matter of time.

Back in the day, we used to call a “slider” a “burn-out”.

Formerly a productive energetic engine of accomplishment, this person is unable or unwilling to achieve a level of consistency. They are distracted and disinterested. The real issue is that the burn-out doesn’t recognize that he or she has become a problem. They have a tendency to blame the current management for their shortcomings and always point to their own past contribution and current lack of appreciation… Even when it has no bearing on what’s taking place now.

Jack and Suzy Welch’s, solution is to remove the individual from the organization before he or she pulls the entire organization down. If you can’t pull your own weight, there’s no longer room in the organization for you. This may be the best solution in a business setting.

It’s not so easy when you’re the “slider” and the “business” happens to be your day-to-day life.

What if you’ve become a “slider”?

A basic unhappiness with your current day-to-day life is the first clue. The second clue is looking back at some point in your life as the highlight, or best time of your life. The third clue is you have no passion for embracing anything new. Even worse: Are you in denial that your day-to-day world is shrinking and you don’t seem to care about it?

When your attitudes, opinions and beliefs turn you into a “self-vampiring cynic”, what can you do about it?

Maybe it’s time to fire yourself!

Your ego may no longer be serving your best interests. (does it ever?) The only way you can “fire” your ego is to begin adjusting those aspects of your attitudes, opinions and beliefs which supports the problem ego.

Look in the mirror. Is that the person you want to believe you really are or a broken approximation of someone you once were?

-Bob Baran