Limitless Monday – The Power and Dangers of Revenge and Retribution

I was listening to a podcast the other day where Martin Shkreli, aka the Pharma Bro, was being interviewed.

A little about the so-called Pharma Bro…

Shkreli is a former pharmaceuticals CEO who was nicknamed “Pharma Bro” after hiking the cost of a lifesaving drug [to] 50 times [its original price all at once]. He was convicted of securities fraud [related to improper use of corporate funds not the price increase], served 7 years in prison, and [was]  ordered to pay restitution of $60 million. He further ruffled the feathers of the establishment by offering a reward for a strand of Hilary Clinton’s hair.

In the interview in question Shkreli discussed how he would pursue vendettas against journalists who published damning articles about him. Those vendettas included digging up their unsavory pasts and setting up a website in the journalist’s name displaying all their embarrassing moments. It appears that Shkreli spent a considerable amount of time and energy on this pursuit.

That got me reminiscing. I would often pursue my own vendettas against people who wronged me. A few years ago, I sold my company. The new owners agreed to retain my services as a consultant, provide me with a desk in the office, and allow me to advertise my new company in their newsletter.

The deal closed the day before Christmas. I sat in a bar sipping on a cold beer waiting for the contracts to arrive in my inbox. A few weeks later after the Christmas holidays I re-entered my old office to discover that I no longer had a desk, and the promotion for my new company had not made it into the newsletter. I was furious.

That anger exploded when a month later my old company stopped paying me my consultancy fee. No notice, no reason. I engaged lawyers. For at least three months while a settlement was being ironed out, anger festered inside me. Even while out for a run in the green rolling hills of the countryside, my focus was on what I wanted to do to the perpetrators.

I didn’t like this feeling. I knew it wasn’t healthy and that my focus should be on my new business not on revenge and resentment. But I couldn’t shift it. And then when they finally settled and agreed to pay me, the anger dissipated quicker than I had expected. It was like turning a light switch. I felt immediately lighter, freer, and ready to get back to business.

It’s important that you don’t let people take advantage of you without the threat of some consequential loss or pain. However, this search for retribution shouldn’t take over your life. You are helping the people who wish failure and pain upon you by holding onto the anger and letting it consume you.

The better approach, and the one I try to use now – I say try as it still takes a concerted effort – is to focus on your day to day life. Deal with the problem when you need to, but quickly return to your main focus and priorities.

They say the best form of revenge is massive success. By focusing on your priorities at all times and ensuring distractions are quickly swatted away, success is practically guaranteed.

Using someone’s ‘treachery’ or negativity towards you as a form of motivation is also a wise strategy. However, it is important to establish a fine balance between being obsessed and a healthy need for revenge.

They also say when you seek revenge to dig two graves. That’s why it’s imperative that you focus on being the best version of yourself using your detractors purely as a motivator when you are tempted to take your foot off the gas.

Today, I want you to think about one person who you have been obsessed about seeking revenge over. Your approach from today is to use your anger as a driver. Whenever you obsess over this person and what they did to you, use that thought process as a trigger to immediately do something positive towards your goal. That will take your focus away from the offending person.

Smile to yourself that the person who has bad intentions towards you has in fact made you even more successful than if they had never met you.

It’s time for massive success!

Happy Monday!

Banner Image: Revenge. Image Credit – Dan Burton

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Harry Maximillian

Harry is an author, coach, entrepreneur, comedian and a convicted felon. Harry was sent to prison for a financial crime where he spent five long years. Prison allowed Harry to realize the error of his ways. He decided to use his time productively and mobilize his extraordinary determination, dedication, drive, motivation and desire to focus on writing and the art of self-improvement. Before Harry’s enforced vacation he was one of the most prolific deal makers in the City of London.