Ever wonder what causes clashes in personalities between people?

I have been trying to figure this one out for a while, almost a year actually, since I started working with my current boss. I know what a few of my problems are when it comes to working with him. We have very different working styles - I show up on time for meetings and call if I am going to be late, he does not. I remember commitments I make and follow through on them, he does not. I am respectful of everyone I work with, regardless of their position in the company or their working relationship with me, he.. is not.

I think it is very much a company attitude, part of the corporate culture perhaps. They start as burger flippers, and then one day, congratulations, you earn the right to wear a tie, which creates an immediate boss/sub-ordinate relationship, which sticks with you as long as you work with the company (which for many of them is the only company they will ever work for). So once you earn the right to wear your tie, you also apparently earn the right to treat everyone else like they do not count, do not matter and are not as valuable or as important as you since you are not wearing a tie.

Now for sake of argument, I could wear a tie if I wanted to, I just really prefer not to. Just like I gave up on wearing button down shirts when I realized my dry cleaner was making more money than I was. One day I really need to learn how to iron - but that is besides the point.

What the real question is here today is why is it that I cant see past the differences and adjust my own way of working? Is it because I am too stubborn? Is it because I think he is the one that needs to change? Is it because I have tried to change and haven't seen any difference in him? Does he even realize that there is a problem? Is he just completely clueless?

Clueless, I think that must be it. It was a great movie, unfortunately though, it does not make a great working relationship.