Rudy Ruettiger. David. The 300 Spartans. The 2007 New York Giants. Everyone loves a good underdog story. Everyone loves when the little guy rises up and thwarts his oppressors. That's what Greg Smith seemingly did to Goldman Sachs after working for them for over a decade. But was he REALLY an underdog, though? Was he REALLY oppressed? I don't know about you, but I think I could handle some oppression for the six figures he was getting. The initial feeling is "good for him" because it is so easy to side with the little guy. But airing out your dirty laundry the day you leave the company? That's pretty cold. It also makes Smith come off as intensely bitter. I love the idea of peeling back the curtain and revealing the truth to the public, but, perhaps Smith should have been more tactful in his actions.
I think Goldman Sachs could have responded more gracefully. It seemed like a weak attempt at a rebuttal mixed with an even weaker attempt at promising a solution to the issues at hand. Smith was in full-on attack mode and when it comes down to defending themselves, Goldman Sachs laid an egg. One man's words smacked an entire company in the face and rocked them. Goldman Sachs limped away to lick its wounds and Smith cashed in on a book deal. You're a gigantic powerhouse, Goldman Sachs. Try harder next time.
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