I recognise myself as a younger man in this description of the Alpha Male. I thought I was unstoppable as I rose in my company. Life was about power and money. I ceased to be an Alpha when I was laid off with a big cheque. I had to examine myself in ways I had never done before. Who was I without a big office, my suits and busy schedule of meetings? Don't get me wrong. I was wealthy. But I was too young to spend the rest of my life playing golf and travelling. I took another direction away from business into teaching. I earn a fraction of what I used to but am happy and fulfilled. My advice to Alphas is to enjoy what you have, but be grateful and modest and always be generous to those less successful than you.

I would like to propose a new category: the Alpha Plus Male. They radiate authority but inspire rather than intimidate. They are confident but humble. They believe they owe their success as much to luck as talent. They are not interested in the status symbols of power. They have self knowledge. Unfortunately in my experience few Alphas make the transition to Alpha Plus because no one dares challenge them. They remain insufferably arrogant until disaster strikes, as it invariably does. This is why coaches can be so useful. They can lead Alphas to ask uncomfortable questions about themselves. An Alpha who graduates to being a Plus will be happier and more useful to his company and his colleagues.

Alpha Males have written conventional history. They are kings, generals, politicians, inventors, clerics, scientists and tycoons. The people encountered by Gill Corkindale are created by today's global capitalism (lest anyone think I am anti-capitalist let me say here I support the free market). Compare this to the Alpha Males of Victorian England or turn of the century America. These men were giants in their own right and did not need a fancy business card to explain themselves. The Alpha Males of business today are not in this league. They do not have the qualities, of leadership, imagination and courage that were expected of Alphas in the past. They are fragile and insecure and implode when they have to examine who they are.

When he was 43 years old a British Alpha Male called Gerald Ratner lost his job. That was in 1992 and looking back today this is how he says he felt: “All the events and milestones I had mapped out for myself had faded. And without the structure and support network - chauffeurs, secretaries, accountants - and a full diary of meetings, my life seemed incredibly empty. Like many men of my generation, I had let myself be defined by my job, and without it I really didn’t know who I was.” Many years earlier, as he was climbing the career ladder, a friend’s mother told him there was more to life than “money and profit.” She suggested he walk in the park, or go to the opera, anything but work. He said he didn’t listen. “All I was interested in was making money and everything that came with it.”

The quotations from Ratner come from his autobiography. (The Rise and Fall.....And Rise Again, by Gerald Ratner, published by John Wiley in the UK)

In 1991 Gerald Ratner was chairman and chief executive of the Ratners Group, the jewellery business he had transformed "a stuffy old jewellers" into "a trendy fashion" empire with 2000 shops in the UK and United States. He had it all: houses, cars and unlimited expenses. Then he made a speech in which he joked that Ranters’ prices were so low because they sold ‘crap.’ The media tore into him for knowingly selling rubbish to ordinary people and the company almost collapsed. Eighteen months later the board fired him because he was a public relations liability.

Penniless and unemployed he fought back. Today I believe he is wealthy again after a series of successfuI business ventures. I suspect he is a very different person, with different values, to the man in his early forties who thought he had it all.

Surely what happened to him should be a lesson to all Alpha Males?

Based on experience this is what I would advise managers of Alpha Males. Your young executives must be ambitious. They must be dedicated and put work first. If they are not hungry for success at this age they are in the wrong job. With staff like them I suggest they take advantage of my careers consultant. Often they later come to me and say they are changing careers. For those who remain I expect to changes as they put down roots. In their thirties I expect ambition balanced by a wish to have interests outside work. They remain Alpha Males but they are not the same as in their youth. If one of my Alphas does not mature in such a manner I attempt to persuade him to seek advice offered by consultants expert in these matters.

I like very much the concept of the Alpha plus....and I think this is not a new manifestation, I can't place Nelson Mandela anywhere but great and visionary leader, Ghandi equally, Alpha plus seems to work for them.

An interesting article. When I was younger I definitely fell into the Alpha Male category (arrogant, impatient, no work-life balance). I got hired at a company in trouble, worked hard, turned it around and sold it. I walked away with a big payout and the realisation that not everything is about work.

Of course it's easy to understand that when you've got enough money to enjoy your life.

I just wish I'd figured it out earlier. I'm working again now but people say I'm much more relaxed and a far better person than I used to be.

I guess it may be presumed but it would be nice to put it out that Alpha male is a metaphor for a person who is ambitious and driven by single minded purpose. The commitment to that goal in life can lead to behaviors that at times may be seen as impolite, disrespectful and egoistic. It appears that an alpha male in an executive corporate world is associated with greed, zealousness etc. However the same drive and commitment is seen as positive and inspirational when done for a social cause. I don't think so being respectful to the other human being is some characteristic that should be traded in any condition but viewing the Alpha male as a egoistic zealot is a lop sided view of thing. BTW it could be an ambitious female as well:)

It's a trade. I work 24/7. Work is my life. Eveything else comes second. I work out as I want to stay at my peak at work and not because it's time off. My wife understands this. I would like to spend more time with the kids. I can't as I have to work. I am making so much money I will be able to retire when college friends are still mid career. It's easy to write off Alpha Males. Some of us know what we are doing and think it's an fair trade. Sacrifice so you can enjoy freedom later in life.

It's interesting to note that the only people who actually seem unenamored with the lifestyle are those that got theirs.

Hey, guys help a brother out. Does anyone know of a great or good alpha coach in CT? Is it cool to ask?

I think a lot of them have a peculiar problem ...for them ENDS matter more than MEANS...they'll force their juniors in acheiving any thing/targest....and it is what that even prompts their juniors to go in for cutting corners and the whole thing leads to some sort of corruption..this is one important lesson that they need to learn early..that targets are important but don't think of bringing moon back on earth by 'yesterday'

Brian's comments are provocative. I wonder how much is a 'lot of money'? Does definition of 'lot of money' remains the same for ever? What would I do when I retire having made lots of money? Watch my grownup kids leave me? Can I buy back the time that just slipped through my fingers while I was busy making money?

Guess 'Lot of money' is just a dangerously transient perception.

I think many Alpha traits are genetic and shaped by having men in the family who are born leaders. The bloodlines in my family is Sicilian nobility and I am related to Kings and men who were tyrants throughout history. "Montaperto". I experience many Alpha traits which can be viewed as mental illness and people don’t like seeing those behaviors in women.

Cheers,

Jessica