Failing upwards

The act of performing horribly at your current position, while subsequently getting promoted or advanced to a more predominant position.

See Gavin Newsom

"How can the former Mayor of San Francisco (one of the most profitable cities in California) run the city into the ground, then THEN be elected Governor or the state? He really has this Failing Upwards thing down. Next stop, (after further trashing the state) the Presidency!