If I could change one thing about the digital age, I would definitely walk back the whole notion of user-generated content. The vast majority of it is nothing but popular nonsense propagated by pageview-hungry opportunists out to make a buck. At best, it’s feel-good fluff. At worst, it’s complete B.S.
The problem is that people take it seriously. They think some silly habits, hacks, and overhyped fads are going to make them successful entrepreneurs. Nothing could be further from the truth. In my experience, real business leaders don’t pay attention to any of that stuff, especially these myths about CEOs:
They’re extroverted leaders.
If anything, we’re living in the golden age of introverts and geeks. Nobody would ever mistake the likes of Larry Page, Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, or Charles Schwab for extroverts. The very notion that CEOs should be rockstar leaders who exude executive presence is nothing but a myth.
They’re privileged.
CEOs don’t just drop out of the sky into cushy corner-office chairs. Most start with zilch and work their butts off for everything they achieve. Granted, some do come from money but not the majority. If anything, growing up with adversity gives you an advantage.
They’re social networkers.
The overwhelming majority of Fortune 500 CEOs have absolutely no social-media presence whatsoever and those who do post and tweet don’t do it much. That’s just the data. Anecdotally, all the CEOs I know are way too busy running their companies to spend much time on social networks.
Read more: 10 Myths About Successful CEOs
