Alan Weiss’s Monday Morning Memo® – 6/29/26
“Entitlement” is the belief that someone is naturally deserving of special treatment, of others catering to their needs, and becoming angry when expectations (and demands) aren’t met. It is not necessarily a trait of the powerful or wealthy. (I’ve met governors, senators, star athletes, famous entertainers, even a king, and none of them acted entitled.)
It’s often caused by insecurities and resultant overcompensation. It’s a protection for low self-esteem and inadequacy. Entitlement can be caused by overindulgence in childhood or, ironically, compensation for childhood neglect.
I hold an unpopular opinion that the rage about “toxic workplaces” is misplaced, and that they are usually caused, when they do exist, not by horrible bosses but by toxic employees, who would rather claim they are not properly recognized or rewarded rather than working as hard as others to gain their just rewards and recognition.
Everyone is, indeed, entitled to an equal starting point and a level playing field, and we must reconcile those conditions that mitigate against those needs. But no one is entitled to an equal finish or victory. You have to work, study, perform, and achieve in order to reap commensurate rewards. The service on airplanes and restaurants differs significantly because of the individual efforts (or lack of same) of the flight attendants and servers.
This is called personal accountability.
We all make mistakes and errors, and when we admit to them and try to correct them we deserve forgiveness. But no one deserves a “pass” on consistently poor work, lateness, and a bad attitude on a daily basis. These people don’t succeed in life, which enforces their unhappiness and increases their feelings of entitlement.
But at this stage, it’s no longer their parents’ fault.
We live in the age of entitlement, as opposed to enlightenment. —Bill Bailey
Entitlement is just the grossest kind of human behavior. —Jessica Parker Kennedy
We don't have entitlements as part of our family heritage. If you want nice things in life, if you want to get ahead, you have to earn it. —Brian France
Though beauty gives you a weird sense of entitlement, it's rather frightening and threatening to have others ascribe such importance to something you know you're just renting for a while. —Candice Bergen
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