I was sitting in the airport yesterday and listened to several obnoxious young men proceed to tell everyone within 50 yards how they disagreed with their company policy on this or that, and how they had no confidence in one of their products. It made me want to go ask them for the name of their company, so I could buy stock and sell short. They were merely trying to impress people with their "business savvy" but all they did was make some of look at each other and roll our eyes.
Idiots.
Airports bring out the asshole in people. I avoid them whenever possible.
Last year I was on a flight back to Atlanta and sat in front of a guy who was openly bragging about his "business" and supposedly "large home" in a neighborhood of homes worth well over a million. He was talking to the gentleman next to him and mentioned his home's 7000 square feet and many of his business "successes."
After landing I was leaving the baggage claim area and happened to catch this guy getting into a waiting car. The car was a dirty and dented mid 90s Mitsubishi and the trunk wouldn't even close all the way after he threw his luggage in.
It's sad that people feel the need to brag about things they will probably never own.
I was treated to a similar loudmouth group on a train ride from Milwaukee to Chicago. The worst was a guy named Larry who talked at the top of his lungs, non-stop for the nearly two hours the trip took. As we were lining up to leave, I found myself behind two of Larry's buddies. I tapped one of them on the shoulder and said, at approximately the same volume Larry used, "Is Larry still in the running for Asshole of the Year, or has he pretty much retired the trophy?" They sputtered and then broke out laughing. I got pats on the back and high fives from a half dozen other passengers. Larry just got off the train without another word.
I have heard a lot of great competitive intellegence nuggets just by passive listening. Usually great after meetings or conventions. I speak very obliquely re: business (tony soprano would be proud "Several thousand cases of cannolis costing 3 boxes of ziti) when I am in a public domain.. I have been burned before.