theatlantic:

Derek Thompson on Matthew McConaughey, Failing Up, and Why Mediocre Workers Get Promoted

I have a confession to make. I have problem with actor Matthew McConaughey. Matthew could be a really swell guy, but for a star cast in ten movies in the last five years, he lacks a certain je ne sais quoi. Actually, scratch that. I do sais quoi. He can’t act. We grow up. His emotional capacity stays the same age. 

You might have heard the term “failing up.” I would define it as the ability to advance in your career — e.g.: being promoted, finding a better job, being cast in Ghosts of Girlfriends Past — despite demonstrating mediocre talent. It’s true for entertainers. It’s true for overpaid corporate executives. What’s behind the failing up phenomenon?

Marko Terviö might have an idea. He’s the author of Superstars and Mediocrities: Market Failures in the Discovery of Talent, a 2008 research paper I read, after seeing it at Marginal Revolution. Terviö’s thesis is that some industries are particularly susceptible to the career advancement of mediocre talent — especially in fancy management positions, sports, and Hollywood.

Read more. [Image: Reuters]

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   People love mediocrity because it’s safe. Here, The Atlantic explains why.

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   I am going to read the shit out of this. So many times I’ve seen this happen, and it’s so, so frustrating.

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    Yeah and he left my friend, who is a server in Austin, an 8 dollar tip on Valentine’s day dinner! Cheap!

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    Aint that the truth

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32. chinneths said: I’m pretty sure the reason he “failed up” is because of his looks. Not that all good looking successful men and women “failed up,” but if one looks at Hollywood, the consensus would be: Most do.
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    I see this and all I can think of is this:

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