Greed doesn’t discriminate between rich and poor. There are many ways that greed rears its ugly head every day. Here are 8 ways to spot greedy people:
Life’s a spectator sport. “Bystanders” who do everything they can to get out of work are greedy people. While colleagues work at a frantic pace, selfish people work hard to avoid working at all. They spend their days moving piles of papers on their desk while they watch everyone else go crazy. These guys wouldn’t lift a finger if their life depended on it. When a job is complete, however, you can bet they’ll be first in line to claim the rewards of the effort made (by someone else).
It’s all about me. A Christmas Carol is an 1843 tale about Ebenezer Scrooge, a stingy and greedy businessman who has no place in his life for kindness, compassion, charity, or benevolence. In modern times, you’ll find that some wealthy business executives receive an obscene year-end bonus and lavish company benefits while telling employees that the company hasn’t done well enough to support annual employee raises. Why? “Because I’m worth it.” But catch them in a down year, and don’t be surprised when they ask others to “share the pain.”
You’ve got my vote (as long as it doesn’t affect me). Greedy people have strong opinions about issues but expect others to shoulder the burdens. These hypocrites believe that our country should go to war, as long as we send someone else’s kid; the deficit should be reduced, as long as it doesn’t affect their pet projects; taxes should be raised, as long as the additional taxes don’t affect their personal pocketbook.
Something for nothing. Greedy people are first in line to ask for more but last in line to make the effort required to earn the rewards. Instead of adopting the view that everyone benefits as the pie gets larger, they view the pie as a constant — there’s only so much to go around. They feel they deserve a larger piece, even at someone else’s expense, and they’re going to take it.
Takes all kinds. Greedy people take things that don’t belong to them even at the expense of friends or colleagues. This can take the form of bluffing their way to an unwarranted promotion or accepting credit for someone else’s idea. They reason that if these losers aren’t smart enough to take the spoils, then the losers don’t deserve them.
Gaming the system. Greedy people look for clever ways or loopholes to outsmart rules and regulations, designed to protect the system, for personal gain. Although their actions may be entirely legal, greedy people evade their responsibilities by offloading the costs to others. Examples include companies that incorporate in the Cayman Islands to avoid paying taxes and politicians who waste hard-earned taxpayer money by conducting “official business” at resort destinations.
Robbing someone’s confidence. Some people bring out the best in others while selfish people focus on themselves. Greedy people make themselves feel better by tearing down other people rather than by helping others feel good about themselves. Greedy people have the ability to suck the oxygen right out of a room.
Borrowing from the future. Greedy people care about their needs today and kick problems down the road. They put band-aids on problems rather than solving the root cause; they buy things that benefit their organization today rather than investing in its future; they borrow to fund their buying addiction and stick others with the bill. Rather than taking the easy way out, parents, political leaders, executives, and the rest of us have a moral responsibility to provide a legacy for those who follow.
We are such a competitive society. We measure success by finishing in first place, making it to the top of our game, and having better toys than our neighbors. We value instant gratification by encouraging people to consume rather than to save for a rainy day. We idolize people who drive expensive cars, wear the latest fashions, and live in luxurious homes. Greedy or not, we all help perpetuate the addiction. When do we ever stress the importance and value of generosity over material wealth? Think about it: If enough people make a small gesture for someone else every day, we could transform the world. Do you spend more time giving or taking?
Additional Reading:
Bluffing Your Way to the Top
Here’s to the Unsung Hero
It’s All About Me
50 Things Money Can’t Buy
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I enjoyed your article Frank! In a way western society promotes the greedy lifestyle. But being greedy leaves a hollowness in one’s soul that can never be filled. It also leaves you tired … because greed is not about satisfaction and acceptance because you always WANT MORE! Lately, I’ve been trying to see how happy I can be with less. Now I derive happiness from much simpler things … and it is much easier to find happiness … and very inexpensive 🙂
Hi Michael
You hit upon some really important points. First, if we can’t change the world, we may as well change the way we view it. That being said, rather than seek acceptance, it’s important to find inner peace. Second, it’s important to appreciate what we have. The truth is, happy people don’t necessarily have more; they’re just satisfied with what they have.
Have an awesome day!
Best,
Frank
Great article, enjoyed reading it. You change the behaviour only IF you want to. My husband zed he is proud that I know what I want and find ways to achieve it. Does it equate to greed?
Thank you Frank ,for your article. It reminds me of someone in particular who had a very nasty effect on my life. This person was seen and lauded as a “success” but they were really a jealous, greedy individual who just wanted to have power over others and use them and humiliate them. It makes me wonder why we, as a society, are blind to this type of behaviour and why we encourage it. It’s really quite terrible and destructive.
I’m sorry to hear that, Fiona. The fact is that real leaders hire great people, train them well, inspire them and then get out of their way. Conversely, counterfeit leaders believe in command and control — the end always justifies the means. In the short-term that may work. But as you say, “It’s terrible and destructive.”
All the every best,
Frank
This actually a master piece, its beyond what view as greed all my life. Wooooh have been greedy all this years. Thanks am going to make amends and embrace simplicity and contentment. Thanks one again.
Hi David
My goal in writing this piece was to show the many ways in which greed shows its ugly head. I’m glad you like it. Thanks for taking the time to write.
Best,
Frank
You can’t put things into little boxes based on your own perceptions and conventions. Reality is way more complex than the dogmatic representation you’ve put forward. Greed is simply access to overabundance – good or bad. Describing the water doesn’t achieve anything. What you’ve written is a pointless article that doesn’t even address the issue but merely creates misplaced and out of context archetypes whilst slanders them in the same breath. Being a good writer is not a measure of what words or fancy (and tired) idioms you use – it is the deeper thoughts and ideas brought to the surface encompassing the larger picture. I’m sorry to say but you have very bad writing skills resulting in a narrative that seems like it was made up on the spot without any forethought or research. There’s only one way to spot a greedy person – they have something in excess of more than they need, simple. The whether too’s and the why for’s are only incidental and not necessarily what makes a greedy person.
Baz
I approved your comment to make a larger point…
There is a movement, as of late, to shout down, bully, and belittle those with whom you disagree. The truth is, you don’t win a debate with these tactics, you win it with a better argument.
Have a nice day.
Best,
Frank
I think that greed is part of the human condition, almost everyone in the developed world appears to be greedy. People always want more. I think that greed mostly begins as a desire to prove that you’re superior to your peers; and that it becomes a kind of mental disease that someone like Ebeneezer Scrooge or that old Getty billionaire who was apparently asked what would make him happy, to which he allegedly replied “Just a little more”, epitomise. I myself want to embrace the minimalist way of life. It’s just that I find it very hard to do.
I hear you Phil
I define greed as the unwillingness to give OR the willingness to take.
With regard to your comment, some people assume that accumulating material wealth automatically leads to happiness, but nothing can be further from the truth.
While buying an expensive “toy” can provide satisfaction, it often delivers only temporary happiness. In fact, many people pause only briefly after reaching a goal…before setting their eyes on the next prize. It’s like an addiction.
The bottom line is that we place artificial demands on ourselves that undermine our happiness. These demands force us to work harder and harder to cross a finish line that keeps moving.
Thanks for taking the time to write.
Best,
Frank
I found out how ugly greed can be when my Dad died…2 grandkids who rarely visited, showed up as soon as his body was taken to the morgue. ..wanting things; within an hour of my Dad’s burial – my Mom’s only surviving sister asked ME if she could buy my Dad/Mom’s house – (Mom had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s)..and her sister acted as if MOM wasn’t even there… Eventually, by the time we were ready to sell – the sister didn’t want it any longer… good thing too – I had made a few upgrades – and the house was worth a lot more money for MOM. We started getting a few calls from relatives who had never called before – ‘out of concern for Mom’ – but they quickly changed the topic to needing money for various issues. Amazing how fast the calls stopped when I simply said ‘no’. Now, since the grandparents are gone – the 2 grandkids – still think there’s something to be had since I am the only survivor mentioned in Mom’s will. I don’t have any use for greedy adult brats who never came around me or my parents – unless they wanted something. Relationships are supposed to be a two-sided situation – it’s never been that way between them and my parents – or me and them… and neither one of them could tell the truth if slapped them upside the head. Not tolerating the lies or the drama any longer.. totally fed up with a dysfunctional so called ‘family’.
Hi Karen
I’m sorry to hear about your the issue that you’re facing. Although I can’t comment directly on your situation, everyone makes choices in life and has to live with those choices. As for me…I can look in the mirror knowing that I do my utmost to live an honorable life. How much is that worth? To me…everything.
Thanks for taking the time to write.
Best,
Frank
I have just had a very bad situation,my boss very greedy controlling bullying.Drives his black Mercedes with black tinted windows,constantly shouting swearing at contractors. Well thats what he classify s them as really employees but hard to prove.The most toxic job i have ever had.He belittles people constantly. I am now out of there thank god.This man is quite evil really definitely scrooge.Unfortunately some family members as well money is their god and do not care who they hurt through control and money.Not a nice world really now.
Hi Michelle
I’m glad that you left the company. It sounds like a bad situation. I’m sure your next job will be more gratifying. As I like to say, “If you’re not having fun, you’re playing on the wrong team.”
Thanks for taking the time to write!
Best,
Frank
I really enjoyed this article. You touch on some excellent points, and while I am guilty of a few of these things, I do my best to give back to the people who helped me through my life and the community. Honestly, I think anyone who lives without giving back will never be gratified, and live an unwholesome life, no matter how wealthy they are. Thanks for writing this article.
Hi Naman
I’m so glad you enjoyed this article.
We are all guilty of a few of these things. We’re only human 🙂 The important thing is to do our best and strive to become better people.
BTW, I wholeheartedly agree with your statement, “I think anyone who lives without giving back will never be gratified.”
Thanks for taking the time to write.
Best,
Frank
Thank you for another wonderful article. Insightful as it is informative.
We always need to be cautious not to become an easy prey for these individuals, who seem to become more and more prevalent rather than the abnormal phenomenon in society.
In my humble view, which is not expert at all, I would point to two more traits:
1) ‘Self-Service’ – these characters are ‘takers’ and expect to receive, glory,
adulation, more money, more power. And make very little effort to give.
When they do, there is some gain in it for them. a self-service attitude
describes them well, they always gain and never take a hit willingly.
2) Character flaws. – greedy people tend to display a consistent pattern of
deep flaws in moral and ethical standards. Many times with inflated ego,
who drives the show. Lavish displays and wanting the be the light in the
room.
They take others for fools or label them as ignorant, and are not willing
or at all ready to make any efforts to educate others, whether employees
or investors. They keep the ‘secrets’ to themselves.
Eula —
I agree with both of your points. I continue to be confounded by people who are always on the take. How can they act that way and live with themselves? But that’s for them to decide. As I say, “Listen to your conscience. You have to live with yourself for the rest of your life.”
On another note, it is important to be balanced in the way we view greed. As greed can be the unwillingness to give OR the willingness to take.
Thanks for taking the time to write.
Best,
Frank
All these points sound EXACTLY like my dad. I felt like I was reading about him. he is the most selfish, greedy man I have ever meet. you can’t meet another like him. truly.
I’m sorry to hear that Kalliopi. The only thing we can hope for is that we don’t make the same mistakes our parents made. (We’ll make new ones.)
Thanks for taking the time to write.
Best,
Frank
Very interesting basis on greed and how one gains at the expense of the other. Perhaps Newton’s Third Law could be applied in a different way: for a greedy person, with every underserved gain they make, there is an equal but opposite sacrifice forced upon others mostly the disadvantaged and vulnerable to pay the price for their greed.
Hi John
I think your analogy is very clever. The way I see it, greed can be the unwillingness to give OR the willingness to take.
Thanks for taking the time to write.
Best,
Frank
I really appreciate this article taught me a lot about people I’m dealing with every day .
Thanks Lameck. I’m glad you like it.
Although people often equate greed with money, there are many ways that greed rears its ugly head every day.
As I say, “Greed can be the unwillingness to give OR the willingness to take.”
Thanks for taking the time to write.
Best,
Frank
Thank you for this very clear and informative article. I also really like how you handled the person who made those needlessly nasty comments. i found your response remarkably gracious. I would however like to add this definition of greed I have been kicking around in my head for a while: Greed is wanting more than you need or more than you should fairly keep. The first bit is subjective while the second part is a little more objective and assumes others are in the picture. Sometimes you don’t have more than you need, but in the particular circumstance (and considering other interests involved) you may be taking more than you should fairly keep. I hope it makes sense. All this kind of reminds of what Gandhi said: “there is enough in the world for every man’s need but there is not enough in the world for one man’s greed.
Hi Tunde
Your point is well-taken.
When you say, “you may be taking more than you should fairly keep” the word “fairly” jumps out at me.
How can anyone judge fairness without first knowing the sacrifice and effort that was required to achieve success. As the proverb says, “Before you judge a man, walk a mile in his shoes.”
Second, who determines what is fair? In my mind, that decision should be left to the individual rather than the masses. The individual has to answer to a much higher power — their conscience. As I say, Listen to your conscience. That’s why you have one
Thanks for taking the time to write.
Best,
Frank
Thank you for such an insightful & thoughtful article. You certainly have broken it down very well.
So many people seem incredibly unaware of self, let alone others. How does one go through life seemingly blind to one’s own choices? Is it in fact a choice to turn a blind eye towards one’s own behavior? For if we see ourselves in others, do we not criticize and condemn greediness in its many forms when it’s coming from anyone but ourselves? I was raised by a malignant narcissist mother who displayed most if not all of your greed categories. While I had thought she couldn’t possibly be aware of her selfishness, I have come to understand she does in fact know exactly what she is doing, however, justifies her own behavior. I for one have tried to live a life with more self-awareness and awareness of others. I make deliberate, considered decisions taking only what’s needed including natural resources and giving away what I don’t need or can do without which deeply satisfies my soul.
Hi Karen
We have no control over how others behave. All we can do is control how we respond to it. It seems like you learned a very important lesson from your Mom and chose to move in a direction that’s right for you. Bravo!
Thanks for taking the time to write.
Best,
Frank