A COLLEGE "DROPOUT" FOOLS THE NATION IN MEDICAL FRAUD.

Streaming gives us another incredible true story based on a Wonderlypodcast. First, Peacock covers Dr. Deathand Apple TV gives The Shrink Next Door. Now, Hulu presents the story of Elizabeth Holmes (played by Amanda Seyfried), the infamous fraud who lied her way up to the top of Silicon Valley with her Sci-Fi take on medicine. This story begs the question: What were they thinking?

That's a difficult quest to answer until one knows the dark mind of a narcissist/psychopath. In the case of Theranos, it seems so many people missed the glaring red flags. What mattered to the old, white men of Silicon Valley was her appearance. Last I checked it takes a lot more dyed hair and a pretty face (is she though?) to run a business. Whether that CEO be young/old, man/woman, pretty/ugly, it doesn't matter. A CEO needs to meet qualifications, earn the skills, and do the work.

The concept was pure fantasy, which is why most of her professors, scientists, and science-based companies would not support her when she first founded the company. Her supporters were "old, white men" with a limited understanding of science. Instead, they were swept up in the glamor of the technology of Theranos. Sure, she had an attractive idea, but she could never guarantee that it was a possible idea. Today, we explore the aspect of narcissism that makes the case of Theranos of fraud so popular: false promises.

At what point does she become a fraud?

I think the process is so gradual that it's hard to pinpoint the exact moment. Yet, the process begins in college when the idea for her machine begins. She spends her time as a student with a chip on her shoulder. She is smart and ambitious. There's nothing wrong with that. We all get ideas on occasion. Most of us explore making our ideas a reality. More often than not, our ideas fail, but we learn and adapt. We move on. At least, we should move on. Holmes, on the other hand, doesn't accept defeat. Does that make her ambitious or just plain stubborn?

Elizabeth Holmes had none of that to her name, not even a four-year degree, which was damaging to her credibility. Her background (or lack thereof) made it clear to people that her medical device would never work. It defies the laws of physics. We see them in the Dropout. She begins her fundraising campaign with company leaders related to health and science. Their understanding of the field enables them to see through her and pass on the investment. Or "lost a chance to disrupt a seven-billion-dollar blood-testing industry."

The story should end here, but Holmes cleverly adapts. She reaches out to powerful old men who don't know a thing about science. They missed out on something all right, and I bet they are extremely relieved that they did. Theranos is worth nothing because it is based on a fantasy. By assembling an ignorant board, she ensures that no one would question her again. They would hand her millions of dollars on a promise that she could and would never keep.

I can speak from personal experience about how often a narcissist willingly breaks their promises. So desperate for supply/power (or both) that they'd say anything at the moment to get their monetary supply. Her goal is to be a billionaire, and she technically achieves that, but only because the powerful men of Silicon Valley hand it over. Yes, it amounts to billions of dollars. The problem with calling her a billionaire is that she does not earn it. She's no better than a thief and a fraud. Sometimes, I wonder if narcissists are allergic to work.

No one in this story explains it better than Professor Phyllis Gardner (played by Laurie Metcalf). She lays it out for Elizabeth in the pilot while she's a sophomore in college.

"You don't get to skip any steps. You have to do the work: your work, other people's work. You have to do so much work that they have to admit you did it, that nobody helped you. You have to take away all their excuses. And if you get anything - anything - wrong, they'll destroy you. And they'll be so happy to do it."

This speech makes Phyllis Gardner the hero of this series. Her brutal honesty may cause a narc injury to Holmes, but she is 100% right. Life is work, struggles, and betrayal. A reasonable person would listen to the professor. Holmes didn't. In fact, she skips so many steps that her business becomes a guaranteed failure before it begins. Scientists like Gardner can see her for the fraud she is and the downfall of Theranos long before it happens. It is the inevitable conclusion for every fraud, con artist, and narcissist. It's all just a matter of time.

Elizabeth Holmes also had a disturbing obsession with Steve Jobs. One might think this is a case of an extreme celebrity crush, and maybe it is. Partly. Her obsession is a case of mirroring. She dressed like him, poached his employees, and used the same contractors like him. Not to mention the fake baritone voice. She changes her entire persona in hopes to gain more respect. Her problem is that she demands respect with manipulation and intimidation. Instead, she should command with her actions. All she would have to do is deliver.

She latches onto a young, successful billionaire because she wants what he has: money and fame. However, he has one thing she does not. It's the key to Apple's success: follow-through. He delivers again and again. She does not. Her product is a continuous failure. The only success she can claim is how long she manages to hide the failure. If she spends as much time on the product as she does filing lawsuits and running background checks, who knows. Maybe, her company would have gotten somewhere.

There is truth in transparency. Not intimidation, threats, and lawsuits. The harder Holmes tightens her grip, the more control she loses over her employees. A narcissist's biggest fear is exposure. She would resort to anything to keep her despicable secrets.

This leads me to the true heroes of the story, the two people who refuse to cave to her intimidation.

Gardner makes a big deal about women needing a proper role model in the scientific community because the culture is rigged against them (just like so many other places). Elizabeth Holmes is the imposter, so who is the true role model. She comes in the form of a timid, young woman, Erika Cheung (played by Camryn Mi-young Kim). She comes to Theranos a young, ambitious intern. She is fresh out of college, but still has much to learn about her field. That also means she has a lot to lose, and Elizabeth certainly tries. Fortunately, Cheung is much stronger than she appears to be.

Having survived the same trauma as Holmes (according to the drama series), Cheung never gives up. She never quits school, even when she feels like giving up. Thankfully, she doesn't. Something inside her keeps her going. Because she has character, drive, purpose, and a moral center. These are all things that Elizabeth insists on having, but does not.

Because she never lets the predators of the world stop her, she reaches her full potential. She takes all the right steps just as Gardner says. Cheung earns her degree, applies for an internship, and works very hard. Most importantly, she speaks up when she witnesses Theranos' unethical behavior even at the threat of very expensive lawsuits and the end of her career. Still, she does the right thing by reporting Theranos to the proper authority. With one email, she shuts down Elizabeth's whole fraudulent company.

Now, she is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of EIE, Ethics in Entrepreneurship. She takes her experiences in life and turns them into something incredible. She (unlike Elizabeth Holmes) does something good for the world. No fraud. No false promises. No lies. Cheung is a survivor and a true inspiration.

Allow me to give you a word of advice as someone with personal experience with narcissists in the workplace. Never work for one. No matter how desperate you are. You may think you're helping your career at the moment, but you're not. It's not worth the strife of zero validation, a series of demotions, crap pay, and all the blame. You'll be breaking your back for nothing. Next thing you know, it's been eight years of misery when all you must show for your hard work is a stack of medical and therapy bills. The sooner you cut ties with a job like that, the easier it will be to acclimate back into the world.

Look for the signs. Stand up for truth. Never be intimidated.