Equal Illusion

"But shouldn't it be 50/50?"

No.

Ray Dalio built Bridgewater on total honesty. Anyone can challenge anyone. Best idea wins.

Beautiful story.

Except when two ideas are equally good.

Then Ray's wins.

Because it's Ray's company.

(Even "radical transparency" has a boss.)

Here's the thing: Fair assumes equal need. But your manager needs something different than you need. You need their support to move up. They need their boss's support.

See the difference?

They don't need yours the same way.

99% of the time, logic wins. Data decides.

But in that 1% where two smart people disagree?

The org chart decides.

We burn energy on "that's not fair."

Like arguing with gravity.

What if we used that energy differently?

Tomorrow: Why flat companies aren't actually flat.