When did I say that accomplishments don't matter? I worked in the author's sphere of influence at a previous previous company and witnessed them firsthand on a regular basis. I would agree that the corporate "fog-of-war" makes it easy for the accomplishments of very skilled people to disappear within the Googles and Facebooks of the world, but for certain people I imagine being away from the mouths of the outside world makes it worth being away from their eyes too. Popularity is just one of those things that helps me trust that something may exist even in cases where I can't personally see it. The crowd aren't always right, but I think their approval can often signify my need for a second or third look at something I've reflexively dismissed. Attitude is a tangential but separate detail that would be inappropriate for me to have opinions on, but I can at least say that if there is any it is deserved :)
