I’m going to respectfully disagree with you specifically about the taking orders part.
In Heinlein’s day, until Vietnam and the eventual end of the draft, many, many young males had military experience. The ability to take orders and give orders was assumed, and the ability to do so skillfully was recognized and admired. In the days of big, hierarchical organizations, this was the path to career success.
However, big, hierarchical organizations haven’t disappeared. There are also a lot of relatively small hierarchical organizations. But the ability to give and take orders is not as common as it used to be. It was always valuable, but now it’s also rare.
“Dying gallantly” is part of the same thing. I’d suspect that Heinlein knew perfectly well that dying as such isn’t a skill. I interpreted him to mean that the willingness to take severe risks or blows on the part of your team, and perhaps more importantly, your subordinates, is hard to fake and is admired.
ETA. I still would not put my manure-pitching or hog-slaughtering skills on a resume.
Don’t get me wrong, I am totally in favor of other people taking orders. That’s just not my comparative advantage when it comes to utilon maximization.
Doesn’t that assume that you’re always the most expert person in any situation you’re in? If the firefighter says, “Get out of the building now”, what are you maximizing by being a leader instead of a follower?
I’m going to respectfully disagree with you specifically about the taking orders part.
In Heinlein’s day, until Vietnam and the eventual end of the draft, many, many young males had military experience. The ability to take orders and give orders was assumed, and the ability to do so skillfully was recognized and admired. In the days of big, hierarchical organizations, this was the path to career success.
However, big, hierarchical organizations haven’t disappeared. There are also a lot of relatively small hierarchical organizations. But the ability to give and take orders is not as common as it used to be. It was always valuable, but now it’s also rare.
“Dying gallantly” is part of the same thing. I’d suspect that Heinlein knew perfectly well that dying as such isn’t a skill. I interpreted him to mean that the willingness to take severe risks or blows on the part of your team, and perhaps more importantly, your subordinates, is hard to fake and is admired.
ETA. I still would not put my manure-pitching or hog-slaughtering skills on a resume.
Don’t get me wrong, I am totally in favor of other people taking orders. That’s just not my comparative advantage when it comes to utilon maximization.
Doesn’t that assume that you’re always the most expert person in any situation you’re in? If the firefighter says, “Get out of the building now”, what are you maximizing by being a leader instead of a follower?
Not on your resume, perhaps. But if we go through a global disaster, you may yet be glad you have them, if you do.