"Assholes Need Not Apply" by Sasha Laghonh

The very first time when I came across the phrase “assholes need not apply” was several years ago on a public job board while I was working on a market research study which focused on job hunting trends among U.S. job markets. I was initially unsure how I felt about this third party’s approach for attracting competent candidates who could handle their vacant role in good faith. Such an explicit ask for “assholes need not apply” have gradually permeated through other spheres of commercial and noncommercial engagements offline / offline.

After reflecting upon my life and professional experiences, I got on board with this ideology due to the benefits one derives from keeping things simple. Don’t create bandwidth for assholes or asshole-like behavior, the occurrence of such circumstances will exponentially drop in your favor.

​Also I’ve noticed many men have commented on such topics over time yet not enough women have shared their public stance on the issue. The asshole stance is not a gender issue, it’s a human behavioral issue. In today’s convoluted world, we don’t need to complicate matters by attaching labels to all ideologies. As previously mentioned, it’s a behavioral issue. Behaviors are often derived from a certain mindset, whether it’s a healthy mindset or one operating from a place of negativity. I recall meeting a woman named Lori who worked in the services industry who often would say, “people are weird”. I couldn’t help but laugh at her comment because we both inhabit some skepticism towards humankind. Yes, Lori, people are weird … and sometimes assholes. There are also people who aren’t weird … and not assholes. A person doesn’t have to be weird to be an asshole.

On rare occasions, assholes serve as blessings in disguise. In this context, we’re addressing assholes who treat people in a sub-standard fashion because they believe their existence supersedes all other species.

Focusing on platforms that I’ve managed, including their network of affiliates, embraced “assholes need not apply” years ago to ensure our professional focus remains on celebrating and producing quality content rather than investing energies on mediating behaviors of assholes, regardless of whether they are men or women, who lack the maturity and intelligence to co-exist among collaborators who make magic happen from the point of conception to the final words exchanged in a professional delivery. This includes engagements of all forms that require the efforts of more than one party to ensure a prospective collaboration sees the light of day.

Once in a blue moon a third party may fail to honor their commitment due to their free-will. The latter is fine but there are consequences for such decisions that need to be addressed. They made the choice, then they need to address the next steps with accountability. This comes with facts not feelings. It’s not rocket science that one decision will lead to another decision that needs to be made. It’s not our job to manage any third parties that pass through our radar.

When any client or candidate exercises a poor demeanor through speech and actions onto any members of the team, this automatically is a deal breaker. It’s not what they do, it’s how they handle such situations that tells the world how they treat themselves and people around them.

Exercising any asshole tendencies by projecting entitlements and demanding how we should serve them (on their terms) lets us know their mask fell off before the completion of their commitment. If they act like they’re an exception to the rule, it lets everyone know they are a poor investment which leads them to be ousted from the community. We welcome most forms of professional collaborations but not at the expense of deplorable behaviors. It doesn’t matter if such behaviors emanate from a woman, a man or even a group of people.

We are indifferent to the investment the third party makes for their commitment in any shape or form. Once their asshole light is blinking bright red — we disengage with no questions asked. It’s amusing when people craft the most absurd stories that lack sense to justify their behaviors. No one asked, we don’t care to know. It doesn’t matter because it doesn’t change the real-time outcome.

The rules of engagement are explicit. Either honor your part, or not. When prospective parties entrap themselves within a web of stupid behaviors, we don’t linger to watch them dig themselves out of their predicament. This diminishes their credibility in terms of their character and the value they bring to the table. Such behaviors often signal to the world they lack self-respect which obviously is exhibited through their lack of respect for others when they act like Grade A assholes.

Their asshole tendencies flare when their fictitious attempts to yield a desired outcome fails.

What does this all mean? “Assholes need not apply.”

​What happens when people can’t honor their commitment with some level of dignified effort? The accountability falls into their court, not ours. It’s not personal, it’s work. We don’t judge their circumstances because we don’t care. It’s not our business to know in the first place BUT we do judge bad behaviors. Apply common sense. Refrain from exhibiting sob stories, victim mentality and/or entitlement tantrums. When people lie it’s to make themselves feel better to mask their incompetency to do the right thing.

We have a set rule among our network —

​If anyone treats our members, the network or the community poorly —Mark my words, we will throw your ass out.

Take your entitlement tantrums somewhere else.​

We represent an inclusive global community from the first day when we started with an audience of only one. We don’t take anything for granted because the network has grown organically over the years due to serious, yet passionate, professionals desiring positive outcomes.

My role is to shine light on parties that respect themselves and others through maintaining a healthy collaborative community, professional and otherwise. They have EARNED their merit. It’s their time and place to showcase their best abilities with the world. I will do my best to represent their efforts. I will sensibly voice what needs attention to protect, defend and honor the integrity of the networks which represent the efforts of many people. Let’s go out there and produce good-will!

Again, what does this all mean?

“Assholes need not apply.” 😉