Are You Addicted to Power?

Abstract

Greg, a high-level executive at a large financial institution, enjoyed the attention, rank, status, control, and recognition that came with the job. Rubbing shoulders with other high-status people gave him a high. He liked it when people deferred to him and wanted to please him. He loved being at the annual meetings of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Being part of that gathering was a real adrenaline boost. It gave him the opportunity to exchange ideas with the kind of people he would otherwise only read about in the media. To Greg, life was all about power and money.

Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.

—Commonly attributed to Abraham Lincoln

Power corrupts, but lack of power corrupts absolutely.

—Commonly attributed to Adlai Stevenson