Monday, August 4, 2008

LAW $&: Do Not Go Past The Mark You Aimed For; In Victory, Learn When To Stop

The taste of victory can really be sweet. The feeling of elation as one has achieved the goal he has worked so hard for can make him feel invincible. Yet, many get knocked off from the top they’ve worked so hard for. Why does this happen? Can we really not avoid the wheel of fortune that can hurtle us down as easily as up?

What most people forget about when reaching their goal, is that it’s not all about reaching the top, because what’s harder is staying on top.

The problem with gaining victory is all the glory and praises you get, which can disillusion some people into thinking they’re invincible. Such foolish arrogance will be the cause of their demise. Arrogance blinds people of their purposes, and also of the costs of their victories. Arrogance will propel people to recklessly move forward, when what they should be doing is to take a step back and examine the situation rationally, because it would only cause them trouble if along the way they make more enemies.

When people continue moving forward, they sometimes lose what they already have. This is because the victories you have gained can cloud your judgments and reason. Sometimes make you even think that you can gain more victories with the way you have gained your other victories. This is wrong. Each situation is different, circumstances are different, and if you keep repeating your methods of winning, you become predictable.

Like Cyrus the Great, who led the Persian Empire, he made a mistake of thinking himself as superhuman and incapable of defeat. He was unsatisfied with his numerous conquests and wanted to conquer more. And so he went up against a queen, and pursued to take her land and people from her. Even when the queen told him to quit, he knew of no such words and just enraged her. This was where Cyrus the Great met his demise. One act of arrogance undid all his other works, and his empire fell.

Cyrus is an example of someone who did not follow the law; he did not stop with his other many victories. Though it is important when crushing enemies to either crush them completely or to leave them alone entirely, because leaving an enemy half beaten will foster bitterness and revenge. But, when do we know when something is overreaching? Can’t people aim for something higher and focus on that to achieve it? When do we really know when it is time to stop?

An example of a follower of the law, who was able to achieve her goal and become even greater, was Madame de Pompadour, a great woman who kept changing her strategy in order to keep her role as the king’s mistress. She knew that the king bore easily, so she always had a plan to keep him entertained. When the king became unsatisfied with her in bed, she just encouraged the king to set up a brothel. Younger and prettier women at the king’s disposal would entertain him, but would never be able to replace her with the charm and sophistication she had.

Madame de Pompadour always kept her goal in mind, and never stepped beyond her boundaries as a mistress. She became even more cunning and strategic after her moment of triumph. She never flaunted her good fortune, and she dealt with her enemies not by fighting them, but with extreme politeness, charm, and grace, she was able to win her enemies over. This made her even more famous and able to keep her position longer than any other mistress.

For us to keep the victory we’ve obtained, we must be like Madame de Pompadour who succeeded in her plans, because she created the rhythm in which people played into; she constantly changed her pattern, which kept her enemies off balance and making it harder for them to predict her motives. She was cautious not to repeat same thing, because she knew it would bore the king, but was also cautious not to make aggressive moves, than could cause her disfavor. Most importantly, she was able to keep her power by combining cunningness and strategy by recognizing the role of luck in the circumstances she had.

-Marykris P. Uy

HI 18 - O

37 comments:

Anonymous said...

I agree with your law. Most people who are on the top lose sight of the hardships that they went through to get to the top, and they assume that they are invincible, which is most of the time the cause of their downfall.

janine cindy santiago said...

To better explain this, we probably should hear the basketball players in their overstated interviews. "We must take it one game at a time... then think of the Final Four, after that will we only think of the Championship." One should stick to his goals to attain success. going beyond those goals might not be all wrong, but that constitutes arrogance and ambitiousness. It is better to think about subsequent goals, after finishing the business wit the first goals.

princess joan said...

True. It's all about sticking to your goal. Again, I can see that this law also relates to Law 23- Concentrate your forces because it tells you to concentrate on your goal and never let go of it. But sometimes, people become drunk with success. If they know, they're near their goal, they change goals - again, repeating the example I gave in my discussion of Law 23, the one of the players of Deal or No Deal. Sometimes, they just plan to bring home little cash, but then, because of greed, they go home with less cash or none at all!

Joan Medalla
Hi18 N

Dino said...

Yup! I really agree to this law. It is right (sometimes) to be charming and sweet as Madame de Pompadour in order to overpower someone. She was satisfied with "partial" achievements because it was all a part of her BIG plan to fully achieve her plans.
I think that with this partial victories, the question that should guide us in pushing our victories even further is, "Is it the right time to do it?" Because sometimes, the golden opportunity occurs only once.

Dexter Tanengsy said...

The main ingredient to reaching higher peaks without toppling down is a clear mind. Even when you've achieved much, do not let all the praises and triumph distract you but instead, make them propel you to the top. I do not believe that pursuing goals till the ends of the earth is wrong. It is what happens when you are at top. As Marykris emphasized, the difficult thing is not reaching the summit but is staying there.

Dexter Tanengsy, Hi18-N

maiki Abello said...

We should not keep going and going becomes one day we won't be able to keep up anymore. But at the same time, we must also not just be content with where we are. We must push ourselves but only up to a certain extent. We can take risks but these risks must be sensible ones. The chance of risk and success should be as equal as possible.

Katrina L. Abello
HI18-O

Unknown said...

This is the classic case of someone who is overly ambitious. Although it is tempting to go further after you've reached your goal, know your limits. It's just like the mentality of being "in the zone." Being in the zone won't last forever.

One instance to show how victory can lead to defeat is Rome's attempt to invade Africa. After they win the battle of Mylae, they think that they can do more. They get so overconfident in their abilities that when they try to invade Africa, they fail.

...because at times, it's not just about how good you are. Sometimes, it's just about luck.

Marian Janelle Aliwalas
HI 18 N

Anonymous said...

But wouldn't this law clash with the law number 15? Come to think of it, you are to eliminate your enemy. Machiavelli says that, if you are to eliminate your enemy, you have to eliminate your enemy and all his kins with a single strike.That way, you went past your mark, right?

-Ian Cadeliña
Hi18-N

janna_amigo said...

yes, never be too arrogant. pride has its way of making even the most brilliant people stupid. your enemies could use this against you. as i studied the third law of power, i read this story about a powerful but arrogant Ethiopian warlord who refused to surrender to the great Haile Selassie. he even mocked Selassie who was a quiet man, believing that he was weak and cowardly. Selassie proved him wrong. he waited for this proud warlord to let his boasting and arrogance lead him to doing something foolish and then he struck and caught him off guard. the warlord, after being tricked by Selassie, was utterly humiliated and had no choice but to surrender to Selassie. after this, the warlord hid in a monastery for the rest of his life.

Marcy Leonora V. Pilar said...

I agree with Dexter in saying that there is nothing wrong with 'pursuing goals till the ends of the earth'. Don't let the wheel run over you- since you know you can't stay at the top forever, you should know that you can't forever stay at the bottom as well. And as Marykris said, 'each situation is different'. Sometimes you win some, and sometimes you lose some. We just have to learn how to adapt to these situations, and then respond with proper actions.
However, one must take note of the so-called peak or, as it is put in Calculus, the absolute maxima. There may be many other maximum points in a graph, but there can only be one absolute maxima. One must know when he/she already is at his/her prime/zenith. Take advantage of that because, after that, you won't be able to go that high anymore(absolute maxima). But, of course, that doesn't stop you from reaching high tops (maximas) again after that. (Take Manny Pacquiao as an example. He is at his prime right now. But what will become of him x years from now, when he is already too old to box?)

Unknown said...

I say when planning, aim for the highest feasible and possible goal to attain. Isn't this the case for most businesses? They all have BHAGs or "Big Hairy Audacious Goals" (I swear, that's what BHAGs is, no kidding).

These are kind of guides that get you through businesses intact. They give you a sense of who you are and a big picture of what you want and aim to accomplish.

Of course, an important factor here is sticking to the plan. "Kaya nga gumagawa ng plano para sundin."

But as we know, too much of something is never good. Moderation and control, once again, plays a big factor.

Patty Geollegue
Hi18-N

Unknown said...

I also agree with this law. One should not let emotions carry him away, for it can also let to one's downfall. Being overconfident just because you won a previous battle can be a great advantage for your enemies.
Also, if you plan on going higher, you should think and plan it out first, to make sure that you are not just swept by your emotions.
Trixie Cruz
Hi18 O

Cooky Araneta said...

I really agree with this. So many times throughout history, great leaders who achieved so much lose it all because they let their past victories and triumphs get to their heads. Yes of course, it's good to look back at what you've accomplished in the past, but this shouldn't blind you of the future. Just because you were able to do a lot before, doesn't mean you can do it again. Moreover, if you let all that pride blind you, you won't see what's right in front you. Then you'll surely fall.

There's always a limit to everything. You can't always be on the top. Being victorious in victory means acknowledging it then moving on. Don't stay on cloud nine forever. Come back to earth. You've had your time, now get back to reality.

alex salaveria said...

"What most people forget about when reaching their goal, is that it’s not all about reaching the top, because what’s harder is staying on top. "

I agree with this. When people conquer other places, they must maintain them and keep them free of their enemies. The more places you take, the more difficult to keep track of them.

Alex Salaveria
HI18-N

ninefingertips said...

Yep.

just because you've been winning so far, doesn't mean you can't lose at the next challenge.

BUT

I don't think that this law would suggest that once you've reached your goal, it's time to stop and be happy.

NO.

I think, it means

Stop and Aim some more. you can never have too much of something. because you only live so long. its probably a law better rephrased as: take breaks when vanquishing things.

Take a look at Hannibal Barca(again with Hannibal) he'd been winning so far-but then again his goal was to kill off rome entirely-
but i think what Scipio did, that he wasn't able to do, was to establish a very stable foothold in Italy.

Scipio captured the Carthaginian capital that was based in Spain, hence his foundations for advancement and conquest were clear.

I do not believe that Cyrus the Great or Hannibal Barca were any different, in their arrogance(?), or their burning desire for victory.

Hannibal wasn't able to establish a foothold in Italy, hence Fabian tactics and attrition warfare became very attractive options for the Romans.

Even if Hannibal had his army running rampant in Italy, kicking Roman ass, his conquest was always a do-or-die situation. He couldn't afford to lose because he had nowhere to fall back upon.

Hannibal believed that he could not afford to, or do not need to, catch his breath.

In the end, laws like this show us how such wars as the second Punic war did not conclude by accident.

ninefingertips said...

Mark Bantayan
Hi18 N

Anonymous said...

I totally agree with this law. When you're at the top, it's definitely tempting to push your luck further, but making a simple mistake at this stage can make you lose everything you worked for. But, as many of you said, this doesn't mean that you should stop setting goals and it doesn't mean that when you push further, you're going to lose. It's about weighing-in the factors: if you're at the top, you've so much to lose --- so even if you're likely to win in the next battle, it's wise to stop because (1.) since you're already at the top, you don't need to fight anymore and (2.)You may still lose, and if you do, you can lose everything you worked for.

___________________________
Patrick Reyes Hi180

katherine conde said...

Though this law sounded so engaging and so true, for me, it is still hard to achieve. Isn’t it that, as one reach one goal, he is to crave for more victory, more success, a higher goal? When would one know the right time to stop? When he had crushed all his enemies as law #15 states?
It would be hard. I know. But then, as this law suggests, do not allow success to go to your head. Do not let success be your enemy and eat you alive.
Katherine Conde
Hi18 O

Unknown said...

wow... a law that tells us that MAGIS is always a good thing. i guess this is true on the battlefield as i've learned in playing civilization.
at first, i wanted to capture a few cities near the borderline. however after being successful in capturing a few few cities, my army was already weakening. but i still decided to march deeper into their territory thinking that i can still capture more cities. and it was inevitable that my army was completely defeated. because of this i was not able to defend to defend the cities that i was able to capture earlier and it was soon reclaimed by its rightful leader.
that's why the second time around, after capturing a few cities and noticing that my armies forces are already dwindling, i decided to stop invading more cities and focus on defending it. then i try to sign a peace treaty to stop the war (haha)
i guess sometimes you have to learn when to stop when you're already at the top something because staying there is much harder as my experiences in civilization show

joanne atienza said...

@ ian: yes, you have a point there. I believe then that it isn't bad at all to go beyond your goals. if it's possible, why not? Even Cato the Censor knew this as he kept in his mind that "Carthaginians must be destroyed!" He hungered for more than victory as he feared the enemies even they already knew they had the advantage.

Learning when to stop? Well, it is definitely hard to identify "WHEN" on the first place.

@janna: I think going beyond the mark which one aimed for does not mean of being arrogant at all. Rather, it means a great thought of taking good care of one's territory and maintaining the status of victory.

Joselle Feliciano said...

This law should be communicated to a lot of people. From what I observe and from the good examples everyone had given, I realise that many people tend to attempt to achieve a mark higher than their original goal. More often than not, this leads to their downfall.

The essence of this law lies in our realization of contentment. However, I do not entirely believe that we must be limited by what we have already accomplished. I guess, for me, the ideal would be setting another goal after establishing stability in your most recent victory. There is emphasis in the importance of timing. One must reflect and plan first during the break periods so that his next attempt at a goal would be a victory also.

Tomato Soup Lover said...

People tend to bask in their success while they are on top, and believe that they are invincible. This is a pretty good law because it is very applicable in our present time. One must know his own limitations, in order not to fall into the trap of believing that he could achieve everything.

Marie Dacquel HI18-O

MiRz Reyes said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
MiRz Reyes said...

I agree on this law. If we keep going beyond our goal, we may be exhausted and cannot celebrate the victory.

Example.
I joined a marathon. I just finished the goal 3 minutes ahead. I started running and running boastfully across the field. I got so tired, and I didn't have time to have a victory party because i was too exhausted to party.

Just as Katrina said, we should not keep going and going. Learn to stop, look, listen.

Be contented of what our goals are, if we know that we can carry on, that's when we should know when to continue.

-Miriam R. Reyes
Hi 18-O

alan mamonluk said...

This law is what most people need. When in power, they don't know when to stop. They usually become greedy and want more power. However, there is only so much power that one man can hold. The more power you have, the harder it is to control.

Alan Mamonluk
Hi18-O

Fonsywonsy said...

Very true. As they say, "It's hard to get on top, but it's harder to stay on top."

Alfonso S. Laviña
II AB MEC
HI 18 Section O

Anonymous said...

The thing here is, you have to CLEARLY establish what your goal is and focus on that. You have to FOCUS and not allow yourself to get swayed by what others say. Listen to others but remain objective and firm with the position by which you stand at. You need to secure your position first before proceeding. If you're not even clear with what and how you want to achieve your goal, it will be easy to get off track, perhaps even permanently.

There is nothing wrong indeed with wanting more but you've to be aware of the fact that you can't just charge all of the time. There are proper periods for resting. Evaluate your current standing first. Before anything else, figure out how you can remain where you are.

Jennifer Stacy Tan
Hi18 N

princess joan said...

I also agree with Allan. This is what some people need to understand. There are so much power in this world, but we need to know when to stop. Greed does not bring anything good. I believe, this is where my law comes in, concentrate your forces, know what your goal is, and stick to that. Just stick to your goal, and try not to go beyond that. Moderation is the key. If you have reached your goal, and you feel that you can still do more, do it with caution. Do not give up everything you have. Do not invest too much. Do not risk everything for greed.

Joan Medalla
Hi18 N

Carl Siy said...

So many great empires have made this mistake. Macedon, Rome, and Napoleonic France are prime examples. They expanded too far, and in the case of Macedon and France, too fast; they were gigantic and powerful, to be sure, but unstable, and toppled soon after.

Carl Siy
Hi 18 N

PS. Magtraining ka!

Unknown said...

A comment above by Marian Janelle Aliwalas included things about rome invading africa, and something about luck.
I agree that rome's attempt to go after africa was what this law was warning us about. Rome forgot to take a step back and only thought about being able to defeat any army. Thus, they were defeated by the terrains and weather conditions, which they came unprepared for.
And yes, Luck also plays a part in any success, and we must acknowledge it's presence, but never depend on it entirely.

Unknown said...

A comment above by Marian Janelle Aliwalas included things about rome invading africa, and something about luck.
I agree that rome's attempt to go after africa was what this law was warning us about. Rome forgot to take a step back and only thought about being able to defeat any army. Thus, they were defeated by the terrains and weather conditions, which they came unprepared for.
And yes, Luck also plays a part in any success, and we must acknowledge it's presence, but never depend on it entirely.

FXRL said...

@ alan

Don't you think that the people who get greedy and rest on their laurels have done so because they stopped aiming higher? Stagnation brings about the corruption of mind and values...

By aiming higher, you don't have time for such distractions. Even better, you're still fighting for a greater cause.

Unknown said...

This is to defend my law with what some people had to say about it=)
1.by eliminating all your enemy,you went past your mark?
That depends, was it necessary to eliminate your enemy completely with all his kins, because letting them go would only cause you future troubles? like revenge? or did you eliminate them unnecessarily and cause harm to innocent people? another thing, when the law said to destroy your enemy completely, it meant leaving him totally defeated so that he may acknowledge and fear your power.
2.can't we aim higher?
yes you can. but you shouldn't think about that too much until you have accomplished your first goal, because if along the way to reaching your first goal, you think of other things, then you'd get sidetracked and lose your original purpose. example, in track and field, while running towards the finish line, you see the girl you like and you cant keep your eyes off her. unconsciously, you slow down or drift away from your lane on the track. then someone overtakes you and you lose.
Only after you have accomplished your goal can you focus on a new one. But never forget to step back and to think carefully about your next step. Think about the situation carefully and you can achieve anything.

Unknown said...

@ fredericklim
People can chose to enjoy the spoils of their triumphs, it's just that some people enjoy it too much and become lazy. But if you think about it, most people who turn to that lifestyle aren't the ones who have achieved all that success. ex.napolean who wanted to achieve more, but his people just wanted to enjoy their wealth and go back home.
usually, the people who aim high from the beginning doesn't become lazy, because they value what they have gained. It's just that, they can.. become greedy.

Eric Andres said...

I believe in MAGIS. You can always strive for more. You can always go beyond what is expected-- but always remember to be considerate of others. It's like one of those games, when after getting enough points to win, your opponent just keeps playing hard and really shoves your loss in your face. I guess it all comes down to self-control. Strive for what's greater--and greater doesn't always mean better than everyone else. Greater can mean being the BIGGER person.

Eric Andres
HI 18 Section N

Anonymous said...

@ eric's comment

knowing when to stop is a sign of power since you have control over your passion/intention. It's okay to continue as long as the reason for doing so is valid. Know when to be content. But MAGIS is a different thing. MAGIS is striving for more like doing more for others. It is still what the goal of MAGIS is - to strive for more.

think politics said...

Agreed..............
Never go beyond the ceilling. An eagle can never fly that high.