The World’s Grumpiest Boss Is Dead

last week The New York Times ran excerpts of memos by “the world’s grumpiest boss”—former Tiger Oil CEO Mike Davis, who died Sept. 18. My three favorites:

On hair length: “Anyone who lets their hair grow below their ears to where I can’t see their ears means they don’t wash. If they don’t wash, they stink. And if they stink, I don’t want the son-of-a-bitch around me.”

On language: “I swear, but since I am the owner of this company, that is my privilege, and this privilege is not to be interpreted as the same for any employee. That differentiates me from you, and I want to keep it that way. There will be absolutely no swearing, by any employee, male or female, in this office, ever.”

On employee communication: “Do not speak to me when you see me. If I want to speak to you, I will do so. I want to save my throat. I don’t want to ruin it by saying hello to all of you.”

That, my friends, is leadership communication.