> clever and lazy at the very top? I don't get it.
Being clever and lazy forces you to determine what should not be done, as opposed to just doing everything because you can because you're clever and industrious.
As you climb higher and higher in decision-making, it becomes clear that the things you say no to at some point becomes more important than the things you say yes to.
The other odd thing is that as a person ascends the leadership ladder, the rank-and-file expect less and less of them. Really good intent-based leadership can be shockingly difficult to discern from someone who truly has no idea what they're doing.