Tuesday, August 5, 2008

LAW 31: CONTROL THE OPTIONS: GET OTHERS TO PLAY WITH THE CARDS YOU DEAL

A good illustrative instance of my assigned law is the case of the Russian ruler Ivan the Terrible. Early in his reign, Ivan had a difficult time governing his country. He did not have substantial power over his subordinates. Majority of the Russian princes rebelled against him.

Yet, instead of confronting his adversaries with brute force, he opted to step back and capitulate. As czar, he abdicated. Because of this, the citizens of Russia clamoured for his return. Ivan listened to their pleas but remained relentless at first. After a few days had passed, he offered them a choice: Either they grant him with absolute power, or they find a new leader. Faced between anarchy and tyranny, the Russians chose the latter. They accepted and rejoiced his return, not minding his dictatorial behaviour—they had chosen to give him that power after all.

Entitled “CONTROL THE OPTIONS: GET OTHERS TO PLAY WITH THE CARDS YOU DEAL”, law no. 31 teaches on how to steer people into voluntarily doing what you want them to do, even though it’s against their will. It is basically about manipulation. You play with the minds of people. Psychologize them into following your tune without them even realizing this. By providing them with a narrow range of “options”, you give them a false sense of “freedom”, of “control” over their lives, making them feel empowered and less resentful of you, the person providing them a “choice”, yet who’s actually forcing their hand.

Although this may be a good strategy, it’s not exactly fail safe. Observing this law would entail you to rely on certain expectations. This would mean that you expect people to respond to a situation in a certain way. But what if it doesn’t work out? You’ll need to have contingency plans for this.

As ingenious and cunning as the strategy may be, narrowing down the options by which people could select from (i. e. “It’s either option a, b, or c only.”) would also limit your own. Sometimes it’s better to see for yourself how would your rivals operate given a larger degree of freedom. Short term freedom for them could give you, in turn, the chance to act effectively against them in the long run.Well, actually, it all really depends on the situation.

Jennifer Stacy T. Tan

LAW 19 - Know who you're dealing with. Do not offend the wrong person.

This law is actually pretty short and direct. I've managed to compile quite a few points based on my comprehension on it as well as some learned lessons related to it in the past.
But first, a fable from Aesop:

The Lion and the Mouse
Once when a Lion was asleep a little Mouse began running up and down upon him; this soon wakened the Lion, who placed his huge paw upon him, and opened his big jaws to swallow him. "Pardon, O King," cried the little Mouse: "forgive me this time, I shall never forget it: who knows but what I may be able to do you a turn some of these days?" The Lion was so tickled at the idea of the Mouse being able to help him, that he lifted up his paw and let him go. Some time after the Lion was caught in a trap, and the hunters who desired to carry him alive to the King, tied him to a tree while they went in search of a waggon to carry him on. Just then the little Mouse happened to pass by, and seeing the sad plight in which the Lion was, went up to him and soon gnawed away the ropes that bound the King of the Beasts. "Was I not right?" said the little Mouse.

Little friends may prove great friends.

I remember this story vividly amongst others because it was one of the first that my parents ever taught me. Every now and then, I'd realize its importance whether I be either the mouse or the lion. As I'd repeat over and over, in-your-face and implied, we are not invulnerable.

So, let's get started then...

1. Be humble. If you think too much of yourself, the likelihood of you offending someone and burning bridges goes up. This of course, can not be a good thing. Conversely, should you respect and treat even the most inept people (whether in terms of influence, strength-in-arms, or what not) with utmost respect, you stand a much better chance at forging beneficial, long-term relationships. This is obviously a very good happening because though they may not help you directly, the very presence of a good word in your name is well worth a litle of your patience.

2. Karma. What goes around comes around. You are but mortal. There is a saying that we will all get our due someday. This in mind, what ever you impose upon even the most unassuming of your contacts would eventually work its way back to you. Very easily understood. Very difficult to remember during the right times.

3. Change. Related to Karma, this applies to times as well as people. For example, that weakling you just trod upon just happened to evolve into the biggest, baddest entity out there while you rested in your laurels. Over time, entropy has either reduced or depleted what fighting chance you have. And since he still remembers who pile-drove him into the ground when he was weak, you can't expect too many things to turn out well...

In conclusion, I must warn that this is not an exercise in domesticated docility or unfettered tolerance of anyone's behavior. It is still your call to decide whether further relations with certain people are worth pursuing or not. How you execute such decisions is also up to your will, but it would be most beneficial to you to ensure that the very worst relationship you would ever harbor would be "neutral".

Why? Well, try to remember that you are not invincible.

All it takes is one person, enraged due to an act of arrogance, to bring it all down on your head.

To build relationships is to have your own Sword of Damocles. You have the power, you have the responsibility. But all you ever need is a single act of disrespect or disregard to end you (mind, body, soul, reputation. one at a time, or all at once) instantly.

LAW 46: NEVER APPEAR TOO PERFECT

The Philippine Society claims to condone Envy, or so our morals and Christian values exclaim, but I believe that our limited and uneven allocation of resources has given birth to hybrids of envy. Comparing our local game shows to Western games shows, or American ones in particular, manifests crab mentality. The old "Game knb?" elimination round format had the "Atras powers" mechanism to pull back people who are ahead or keep them from reaching the next round. It disgusts me to watch the Filipino version of "The Wheel of Fortune" because while a contestant spins the wheel, his opponents would yell "Bankrupt! Bankrupt!" or "Lose a turn! Lose a turn!". We don't see this kind of behavior in the foreign versions it is exclusive to the Philippines or as they would say, "walang ganyan sa States" these are indirect manifestations of "unhappy admiration". Envy is no longer the "He has it I want but one too" mentality, in the Philippines, it has evolved into "He has it, i want it. The only way I could have one too is if I get the one he already has.".

"Of all the disorders of the soul, envy is the only one no one confesses to."
Plutarch, c. A.D. 46-120

I am very much sure that we have had our share of envy, but because it is deemed unacceptable, we never really talk about our "unhappy admirations". After watching the play "The Death of Memory", about characters who were trapped and forced to remember their repressed memories, I spent some time with the friend I watched it with and we thought and talked about the things we felt like we had forgoten or chosen to forget. The most interesting of which is feeling envy during the early parts of our childhood. Coming from very different backgrounds, it is funny to see how we both had the same feeling at one point or another. I believe that everyone who was once in grade school or kindergarten has had this experience. A classmate comes with a toy or something that does not seem interesting, but as people start fussing over this new thingamajig we get irritated and wonder why people are giving whatever it is so much attention then we slowly find ourselves becoming more and more attracted to that thingamajig but we still do not know what is so "cool" about it. At the end of the day you want one of your own and the next day the whole class comes to school with their own thingamajig.

We are not influenced to feel this way but influence does bring the feeling about. Given this example leads me to believe that envy is, in a way, innate but is repressed or something we refuse to admit because the confession to envy is admitting that someone is better than us and that we are inferior.

What makes envy seem so evil is that more often than not the people who see the fruits of success up close, those who are close to the people doing well are those who are filled with that deep feeling of envy. Running in the same circle, people wonder why someone who is doing the same thing becomes more successful than they are. From these circumstances, sabotage begins. The things they can tell you and their access to your resources makes things a lot easier for them to make things more difficult for you and ruin things for you. It is very difficult because it is hard to distinguish if someone is sharing your bliss with you or just saying they are. To understand the difference between true compliments and envious comments is very important. More often than not, those who envy will find grounds to criticize the person who makes him feel inferior. It can also be disguised through excessively praising that person's achievements.

Knowing and understanding that envy is innate and that one would never admit to feeling envy. You must come to terms with the fact when you start to gain success people will grow envious and you and envy will lead people to work against you.

By having people close to you feel like integral parts of your success is something that you could truly leverage off. When people feel responsible for your success and if they feel that they are rightfully given credit for the achievement, they will do what they can to help one maintain his status. There is a different with having someone feel that they need you and that you need them. The second is definitely more flattering while the first may have someone feel like a charity case - which is definitely not insulting and will stir up feelings of envy and inferiority, it will fuel their desire to bring you down.

If those who are prone to have "unhappy admiration" feel like they are better than you in certain aspects, you will reveal their true feelings for you when you hear them talking about how they better than you. This is strategic because you will know who to look out for and if someone you have in mind should be watched more closely.

The key element to leveraging off other people is showing them that you are not perfect. By displaying a flaw, they are distracted and while they pick on your flaws, they do not sabotage your operation.

Going back to the "Game knb?" elimination round concept, more often than not, the person who moves up to the next round is someone who slowly works his way toward the front steadily and quietly behind the person who is made to move back everytime someone is given the opportunity to use their "Atras Powers".

angge tioseco

LAW 23: CONCENTRATE YOUR FORCES

“Conserve your forces and energies by keeping them concentrated at their strongest point. You gain more by finding a rich mine and mining it deeper, than by flitting from one shallow mine to another – intensity defeats extensity over time. When looking for sources of power to elevate you, find one key patron, the fat cow who will give you milk for a long time to come.”


Law 23. Concentrate your forces. The law simply states that we need to concentrate on a single goal, on a single task in order to outshine those in distraction. It focuses on the aspect that we only need to have one goal, one master, and one plan. It teaches us five things, to never dissipate your forces on several fronts, to concentrate your power on the enemy’s weakest spot, to hold power within your clan, to affix yourself to one source of power and to learn that power, always exists in concentrated forms.

Through out history, many powerful individuals have used this tactic to achieve power. For instance, Egypt, one of the richest and most powerful civilizations in history attained its power because they do not dissipate their forces. When an Egyptian leaves Egypt for war or travel, it is very important that he goes back home. The Rothschild banking family, an international banking and finance dynasty was able to sustain power through carefully arranged marriages within the family. They were able to expand their power by keeping power within their clan. Another one is Cassanova. He was able to get success by always, always, concentrating on one single goal. When he was imprisoned, he only had one goal: to escape, and no matter how impossible it is, he never changed his goal, and then he had escaped. On numerous occasions, this is not the case. We are human, and if we get a taste of success, we keep wanting more. “Drunk with success, and sick with ambition.” A practical example would be that of Deal or No Deal. Players, prior to the game, may aim to just bring home an ample amount of money, let’s say 200, 000. But as the game progresses, greed brings them down. When banker’s offer reaches 200, 000, and they see that the million is still there, they change goals, they want more. Often than not, they go home, not victorious but losers.

A more relevant observance of the law, would be the choice of being the jack of all traits, master of none, or be an expert at one. More often than not, it is always better to be very good at something than to have little knowledge on everything. But this statement is very dangerous. We entrusted our future in the Ateneo. And what does the university teaches us? Liberal education. Ateneo teaches us to have little knowledge on everything. Unlike the University of the Philippines which pays less attention to their General Education subjects, our core subjects, are of great importance. Ateneo doesn’t make us experts, but teaches us how to be human. Good thing, Greene also puts a reversal of this law. He acknowledges the fact that there are moments where concentration is dangerous and dispersion is the better move.

As a matter of fact, Greene have included laws that seem to contradict each other. And at the last chapter, he also wrote a law that you must break all the laws previously written and think for yourself. And this is the real essence of power, and life itself. There is never an utmost truth. And this is law may be right at the right time, at the right place, at the right circumstance and for the right person -- or it could be the other way around.

Now, would you rather be a jack of all traits or a master at one? Is it quality or quantity? And for you, how can one mission be greater than a thousand options?

If you want to read the whole law by Robert Greene, visit: http://www.scribd.com/doc/489037/Robert-Greene-The-48-Laws-of-Power, page 194.

- Joan Therese C. Medalla

- Hi18 N

Monday, August 4, 2008

Law 20: DO NOT COMMIT TO ANYONE

One of the most benevolent and well-known rulers of the 16th century, Queen Elizabeth I, was a follower of Law 20: DO NOT COMMIT TO ANYONE. It sounds like silly advice, especially since modern-day politics depends on your connections, but after much thought, one realizes that it is useful counsel.

We are made to believe that to succeed in politics means making the right connections and hobnobbing with the people who can give us a lift to the top. This particular law warns us to do so with caution. True commitment to any side is the easiest way to topple off the seat of power, because it opens our weaknesses to enemies and makes us vulnerable. The best course of action is to appear available to all, yet succumb to the appeals of none. Power is easily gained when the two sides of a fight both desire you for their fight and it then becomes laughably simple to push your own agenda into the fray.

In this case, emotions can be one’s worst enemy. Mastering one’s emotions is critical to following this law successfully; how can you ensure your agenda’s triumph when you are easily swayed by emotional appeals from possible allies/enemies?

It seems to me that our politicians have mastered this law beautifully. Our countrymen do not know where our politicians’ loyalties truly lie. However, I fail to see how this can better our country when the people themselves feel betrayed by and distrust our leaders. In today’s selfish world, can this law truly give nations the peace they seek?



Angeli Cruz Hi 18-O

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

Reflection on the 44th Law of Power: Disarm and Infuriate with the Mirror Effect

Dino Tariman – 074248

Pleased to See YourSELF?

Everyday I meet lots of people, from the moment I wake up, go to school, attend classes until I reach back home. Lots of people, lots of personalities and surely a variety of interests. Some are serious, others are wacky or silly, while others ... well, just about any kind of personality imaginable. I too, along with others, am a unique personality with my own desires and motives.

Just like what Greene said, mirroring the other makes the other see himself and hence develop a certain fondness of his reflection. Since I got his confidence in me after a hard time of pretending that we have the same interests, I get access to his mini library and able to get his help whenever needed. We don't argue often because he sees me as a friend. It is quite a favor actually because he likes to counter argue many of the interests my real friends have.

Greene was right that others will love seeing themselves in other persons. He calles this the “Narcissus Effect.” Personally, I think it stems from a disillusioned appreciation that there is someone who wants to be like you. Especially in my case, he knew already that we won't make great friends due to our personalities but I showed him that I am interested in what he is interested. In doing so, I got the weak side of him and am now able to manipulate him into supporting my goals.

Greene also adds that some of the effect of this “mirroring” is the “Neutralizing Effect” which is basically baffling the other because the other can't see your true motives because the other is blinded by you mimicry. Another is that of the “Moralizing Effect” which is, in short, a way of correcting the other by making the other feel the bad side of his actions. This is a particularly effective way of teaching someone because it allows the other to experience the bad consequences of his actions. Lastly, mirroring the other disguises you from very observant eyes because the similarity of both (you and the other) confuses the observer making it harder to determine who did what. This Greene calls this last effect as the “Hallucinatory Effect.”

I also think that it stems from the concept of utang na loob. My “friend” will try his best not to fight with me for the sake of the friendship that has already developed. The “friend” will make efforts to repay the acts of kindness I showed him. Especially here in the context of Filipino culture, many sees these little acts of kindness as personal favors. Perhaps people are motivated to feel indebted because it's not everyday that they are appreciated for who they really are.

However, I must say that this mimicry is very hard to do because the “copy”, can only be an unfaithful copy of the original. It is, perhaps, not the wisest move but it definitely can produce the desired results. Therefore for me, mimicry is an art to master and it begins by knowing your enemy.

Law 22: Use the Surrender Tactic: Transform Weakness Into Power

Weakness and power, by definitions, should be opposing each other. These two concepts are yin and yang. Power fears weakness, and weakness desires power. Imagine my surprise when I read my Law - the Law that put these two concepts on the same side.

Weakness, says Robert Greene, can actually be a powerful thing when used properly. He says that sometimes giving up can be to your advantage, because if you bide your time after your surrender, you can resurface more powerful than your opponent. Of course, it's not instantaneous. The price is that you tolerate your opponent lording over you for a while - days, months, years, who knows - until such time that he thinks he's got you eating out of the palm of his hand... When in truth, you know that you're the one who's got him eating at the palm of your hand. What he doesn't know is that, while he was busy flaunting the fact that he's won over you, you were observing him for his weaknesses. And the thing is, his growing pride and head of hot air becomes weakness enough for you to succeed at least halfway.

I especially liked that anecdote about Voltaire.

"Voltaire was in exile in London at a time when anti-French sentiment was at its highest. One day walking through the streets, he found himself surrounded by an angry crowd. "Hang him. Hang the Frenchman," they yelled. Voltaire calmly addressed the mob with the following words: "Men of England! You wish to kill me because I am a Frenchman. Am I not punished enough in not being born an Englishman?" The crowd cheered his thoughtful words, and escorted him safely back to his lodgings."

- The Little Brown Book of Anecdotes, Clifton Fadiman, 1985

Clearly, the English had been had. I thought, 'Were they that passionately patriotic to actually buy such a statement?' - and it occurred to me, that perhaps they were, at that time, and Voltaire knew it. He played to their desire, the desire to be superior (which proves to be a weakness of some sort), and he succeeded.

I acknowledge that using the surrender tactic will take discipline. You might ask, 'What? Discipline? Isn't it disappointing enough to take that walk of shame of surrender? Now I need discipline to make it work?' Frankly, yes. You'll need discipline so that you don't lose your cool when your superior is ROFL His FAO about how he's.. well.. your superior. You'll need discipline to bide your time, and to know when your superior is at his weakest, most vulnerable moment. You'll need discipline to read his actions carefully to even know what his weaknesses are. Discipline, and a whole lot of wit and cunning.

Makes you wonder, doesn't it? I don't know about you, but it made me wonder about one thing: You know how sometimes you think you get away with "crazy" things behind your parents' backs, because they don't react on it when you get home? What if they actually DO know, and are just biding their time to ground you? How to get out of that one...

Krizia Cureg, Hi18 O

Law 36: DISDAIN THINGS YOU CANNOT HAVE: IGNORING THEM IS THE BEST REVENGE

Sometimes the best thing to do in a situation is to not do anything at all. Making a big deal out of a petty problem just fuels it and turns it into something worse. If we let ourselves be bothered by something, it will just drag us down. This is basically what law 36 is trying to convey.

Often times, those that we desire the most in life are those that we can’t seem to grab a hold on. The more we want something the more we chase after it. With this, we end up being controlled by our desires turning us into a pathetic person. In order to prevent this from happening, all that is needed to be done is to turn our back to what we want and show our contempt and disdain because by doing so we can drive our targets crazy.

Almost the same goes in dealing with our enemies, the more we pay attention to them the stronger they become. This is because we acknowledge them by making a big deal out of them and the more we do so, the more open we are to their influence making us the weaker ones. The best way to deal with this is to choose to ignore them and before we know it, they’ll be playing by our rules, blinded by their desires to have an effect on us.

When we’re faced with a problem, showing how much concern and anxiety it is causing us will only worsen things up. Instead of doing that, this law suggests that in dealing with such problems, it is better to play the contemptuous aristocrat and not acknowledge the existence of the problem. There are several ways we can carry out this strategy:

  1. The sour-grapes approach – when there is something you want but you cannot have, it is best to not show your disappointment by complaining about it. Instead, act as if it never really interested you. That’s the tactic of the powerful.

  1. When you’re attacked by an inferior, show that the attack has not even taken a toll on you let alone concerned you. The same goes when dealing with a blunder. The best response is to treat it lightly as if your mistake wasn’t much of a big thing to worry about.
    • Warning:
  • This tactic may back fire among equals: Being indifferent can make people misjudge you as insensitive.
  • But with a master, it can have a great effect if done decisively: you’ll be able to avoid his angry response, save him the time and effort of brooding over it, and he’ll be able to show his good nature.
    • Making excuses and denials will only make situations worse. It is wiser to play things the opposite way as suggested in the strategy.

A lot of powerful people in the past have used this law to maintain their supremacy over others. For those who weren’t wise enough to do so only ended up wasting their time and energy getting played into the hands of their target.

In playing the card of contempt, one needs to be careful and delicate on matters. Most small troubles vanish when left alone but there are still some that will grow unless we deal with them. Developing the skill to sense problems and to distinguish between the disastrous ones from the mild ones is essential to be able to effectively deal with them. We just have to remember to never completely take our eyes off the problem for a spark can just happen at any moment if we let our guard down.

Sharleen Ong Chiong

HI 18 - O

Law 32: Play to People’s Fantasies

Law 32, “Play to People’s Fantasies”, talks about how one can gain power by promising the something incredible to people who are willing to believe in it due to ignorance and false hope. Their own fantasies blind them from seeing the true and harsh truth behind their lives. As said in the book, “Change is slow and gradual. It requires hard work, a bit of luck, a fair amount of self-sacrifice, and a lot of patience.” With these thoughts of ignorance and false hopes, however, it would be very easy to manipulate men. Many people would like to believe in doing things the easy way- where no amount of blood and sweat is needed since the only thing you truly need is luck. But in reality, how lucky can you really get in this life? Lucky situations without manipulation are very rare. This kind of situation is very seen even in history.

Caesar, Crassus and Pompey wanted to expand their political power by reforming the tribunate of the people. However, due to the conflict between Crassus and Pompey for their belief that they are increasing their popularity at the expense of the other, Caesar found the way into playing their fantasies by giving them positions next to his. He was able to become consul due to their combined influence and wealth.

This power, however, requires extreme caution. There is no telling when people will be oblivious to your plan. If you plan to control this power, you must keep the people suspended in their fantasy. Keep your distance, play it safe. Can you control this power?

-Alan Mamonluk, IIBS MIS

LAW 19: KNOW WHO YOU’RE DEALING WITH-- DO NOT OFFEND THE WRONG PERSON

In the early part of the 13th century, Muhammad, the shah of Khwarezm, managed to build a huge empire and its center was the great Asian capital of Samarkand.

In 1912, Genghis Khan, the leader of the Mongol empire (then, was a small but growing empire) wanted to reopen the Silk Route to Europe and offered to share it with Muhammad, while promising peace between the two empires. So, Khan sent him (Muhammad) an embassy which includes all sorts of Mongol’s finest goods, which in turn, it seemed to him, an extreme act of arrogance, to try to talk as an equal to one so clearly his superior. Muhammad rejected Khan’s offer.

Khan tried again, this time, sent a caravan of a hundred camels filled with Mongol’s finest and rarest articles. But then, before the caravan reached Muhammad, the leaders of the caravan wee executed.

Khan sent another caravan to reiterate his offer, thinking the execution of the former caravan leaders was a mistake. This time, Muhammad himself had one of the ambassadors beheaded, and sent the other two back with shaved heads—a horrifying insult in the Mongol code of honor.

Khan declared war and was able to seize Samarkand and other parts of the empire. Muhammad fled and died. His vast empire died with him. With that, Genghis Khan was sole master of Samarkand, the Silk Route and the rest of northern Asia.

***

If only Muhammad knew how to deal with a man like Khan, he may not have faced such misfortune.

There are many different kinds of people and you must deal with them differently. But, before you could, you must first make certain distinctions—distinguish the wolves from the lambs, the foxes from the hares. Being able to recognize types of people and to act accordingly is critical. The 19th law of power gives us these classifications:

The Arrogant and Proud Man

    This man’s touchy pride makes him dangerous. The Muhammad-Khan story above is an example. Be careful not to insult this man in any way, they may overwhelm you with a violence that is so sudden and extreme. If at any point, in your dealings with this person you sense an oversensitive and overactive pride, flee.

The Hopelessly Insecure Man

    All people have insecurities, and often the best way to deceive them is to play upon their insecurities. But then, those people who are decidedly more insecure than average presents great danger. Be warned: his ego is fragile and practice of trickery of any sort on this man should be given a second thought. This man will attack you in bites that will take forever to get big enough for you to notice. Study your mark well.

    Mr. Suspicion

    Mr. Suspicion is in fact the least dangerous (if compared to the two above). Even so, be careful, for this man usually sees the worst in other people. He imagines that everyone is after him. Play on his suspicious nature to your advantage. But if you become this man’s target, watch out.

    The Serpent with a Long Memory

    If deceived, this man will show no anger on the faƧade; he waits and calculates. Then, when he is in the position to turn the tables, his revenge is marked by a cold-blooded shrewdness. Be extra cautious of this snake, and if you have hurt him, either crush him completely or get him out of your sight.

    The Plain Unassuming and often Unintelligent Man

    This man is a tempting victim for deception. But, this man is a lot harder to deceive than you imagine. This man does not even possess enough imagination to be tricked. The danger with this man is not that he will harm you or seek revenge, but merely he will waste your time, energy, resources, and even your sanity, in trying to deceive him. Continue at your own risk.

The ability to measure people and to know who you’re dealing with is the most important skill you must have in conserving power. Dealing with people blindly will cause you to live your life in constant sorrow, if you even live that long. Study people’s weaknesses and insecurities and learn how to play with it. But take extra caution in measuring people. Never rely on your instincts in judging, for you may commit the greatest mistake in your life. Also, never base your judgment on one’s appearance. He could be a wolf in a sheep’s clothing. Lastly, choose your opponents and victims carefully—in that way, you can reduce possibilities of offending or deceiving the wrong person.

Katherine Joy L. Conde

Ii AB MEC

Hi18 Sec O

Law #15 Crush Your Enemy Totally

Revenge is sweet, they say. It is a fountain for the vindictive, a tonic for the beleaguered. That revenge has changed the course of history is a fact for since times past, a number of personages have been involved in this deed of vengeance.
Mary Queen of Scots was said to have articulated, “No more tears now; I will think upon revenge.” This she said after the murder of her secretary, David Rizzio on 1566. The murder was orchestrated by an opposing faction led by her husband, Lord Danley. The following year, Lord Danley was found murdered. In the same way, sometime in the 19th century, Cornelius Vanderbilt, an American industrialist, wrote a letter to his former business associates that read, “You have undertaken to cheat me. I won't sue you, for the law is too slow. I'll ruin you.”
We all want a sense of security – security from imbalance, chaos and adversity. It is, however, a fact that we cannot acquire such surety as long as our enemies exist – they who plot against us, who plan our demise. The revenge of our challengers can be a frightful thing, especially when they have been afforded time to prepare for the next confrontation.
According to Robert Greene, “…the only peace and security you can hope for from your enemies is their disappearance.” Total annihilation of our adversaries is key then, as Law #15 tells us. Anytime we acquire the opportunity, unreserved obliteration is essential. This way any hatred an enemy may be brewing will not turn into retribution that may ultimately be the root of our downfall.
But then when we ponder in the few prized moments we reflect on life, we are made to realize the appropriateness of this law with regards to Christian morals which value compassion, mercy, and forgiveness. In this day and age, being a ruthless power player is unlike being one in the past, when homicide was not as abhorrent in the eyes of society. We may not kill our enemies like we kill animals for domesticity – it is now against the law. Total attainment of power is repressed as moral beliefs prevent us from being like Wu Chao, Empress of China, who killed even the flesh of her flesh to attain the position of power she held for years or like Liu Pang, who put a bounty on the head of his former friend, Hsiang Yu, indirectly bringing about his tragic death.
I now inquire everyone: Is power worth more than good associations with others? Is it worth crushing our fellow men, be they friends or enemies, knowing the already established moral tenets of society?
~ Joselle R. Feliciano
Hi18 Sec N

Law 27: Play on the People’s Need to Believe to Create a Cultlike following

Simply being a member of a group gives one a certain feeling of oneness, exclusivity, belongingness and appreciation. Think of all the times when you are alone and when you are in a group, is there a huge discrepancy in how you act and how you think? Given this scenario in your head, perhaps you will agree with me that it is not at all surpising that there is that tendency of people to act differently or sometimes even ‘out-of-character’, when they are with other people. There is something in us that when we are in a group we experience reality differently. When in a group, we may laugh our hearts out at something that we initially, on our own, thought was annoyingly corny. Maybe our role as relational beings can explain these changes we experience when we are with other people. We have that tendency to transform when we are with other people. There is that poteniality for a heightened emotional vulnerabiltiy, irrationality, blind confidence and the like. Whatever the case maybe, the reality of it is simple; being in a group influences our behavior, our way of thinking and our ability to manage our emotions. If this is how a much the group we are in influences our way of thinking and our way of acting towards our environment, just think of how much a cult, a devotion to someone or to an object, may influence who we are and how we act.

Why is it that cults, despite the claim of the modern generation of having intellectual maturity, are still very much present in our modern world? No matter how ridiculous a practice of a cult may be, people still join and take part of their out-of-this-world rituals. A good example of what I’m talking about is the example given in the chapter regarding Giuseppe Borri. Giuseppe Borri formed a group from which he demanded the members to observe the strictest vow of poverty. All the goods and the money they posses were handed over to him. He accomplish this by saying, “I shall soon ring my chemical studies to a happy conclusion by the discovery of the philosopher’s stone and by this means we shall all have as much gold as we desire.” Isn’t it brillant? From an outsider’s point of view, we see how prone people are in believing this kind of nonsense. Imagine, giving your money and your possessions without much assurance of the things promised to you? Again, brillantly done. He recognized the need of the people to believe in something and he played with their vulnerable desire. He was able to generate so much power from the weakness of the people that he was able to do whatever he wanted. Given these things, we can now ask, why did these people believe and follow these aimless promises? How did their head/ leader achieve such power of control over their followers?

Law 27 gives 5 steps in order for us to gain power through the building of groups/ cults.


Step 1: Keep it Vague, Keep it Simple.

This step tells us that in order to create a cult we must be able to attract attention. And this is done through the use of orality or the use of words. Words unlike actions are hazy and deceptive; you can use words that will give them reason to join you and what they will get if they join you. But you can never be too specific, always keep the mystery blanket up so your members will always make their own interpretations on what’s going to happen and on what they are going to get from joining you.

Step 2: Emphasize the Visual and the Sensual over the Intellectual.

What’s more interesting watching a funny Japanese prank on YouTube or reading about the same Japanese prank on Wikipedia? I suppose you would say watching it on YouTube. It works the same way here; boredom and skepticism are two of your worst enemies. You have to amuse them all the time and the best way to do this is to appeal to their 5 senses.

Step 3: Borrow the Forms of Organized Religion to Structure your Group.

You have to have order in your cult. Create practices and rituals that will bin your group together. You should have a hierarchy of some sort so that your position as head would be recognized by everyone. Talk and act to them like a prophet to emphasize your group’s quasi-religious nature.

Step 4: Disguise your Source of Income.

You must never be seen as hungry for money and the power it brings; by disguising the source of income you give them no reason to doubt you. Make them feel that your wealth comes from their pockets but from the truth of your methods. And by following your methods, make them feel that someday they will achieve the wealth that you have.

Step 5: Set Up an Us-Versus-Them Dynamic.

Make your followers believe that they are part of an exclusive group. You do this by invent an idea that an opposing group is trying to ruin you and your followers. This will strengthen what they believe in and if they really believe in you, will do anything to stop them.

This psychological manipulation suggested by the 5 steps presented allows us to see how we, as humans, think and behave when in a presence of a group and a ‘powerful’ dictator. There a certain vulernabiliity in us that is played with. We become gullible to the irrational ways of explaining reality. We let go of our logical reasoning and become easily persuade by what we see, feel, touch, smell and taste. We lose our reasoning and intellectual maturity. This happens because there is that desire in us to experience life in a greater fashion. We thrive for mysteries that life brings. This gives us a break from the monotony that we experience. Mysteries give us a sense that there is more to life than what is already there. I do not believe that these people follow simply because they were attracted. Yes, they were attracted but they were attracted by the novelty that each cult brings to their lives. There is a sense of difference, exotiscm and excitement that these cults bring to the people. People follow because this gives them a break from the boredom or the problems that they are experiencing their own lives.

So if you want to gain power in this world, play with this weakness of the human being, the need to believe. With this, you will achieve the power you are looking for.

Mico Fernandez

Law 11: Learn to Keep People Dependent on You

Learn to keep people dependent on you. By making people dependent on you, you gain extra arms on your cause, and in the long run gain power. As Machiavelli mentioned in The Prince,:

[B]y arming [your subjects], those arms become yours, those men who were distrusted become faithful, and those who were faithful are kept so, and your subjects become your adherents.

Perhaps one good example is Charlie Wilson’s life. It was the late 1970s. The USSR invaded Afghanistan and many Afghans, including the Afghan resistance called Mujahideen, fled out of Afghanistan or were killed. They lacked sophisticated weaponry, which enabled the onslaught of USSR forces, and the loss of countless lives. The Cold war was still at hand and both the United States and USSR were both bent on winning. And this is where Charlie Wilson, a member of the US House of Representatives, entered the picture.

Charlie Wilson made a pitch to fund the CIA’s covert operations of supplying the Mujahideen weaponries sophisticated enough to make a good stand against the Soviets, at the very least. By making the Afghans dependent on the United States’ support, Charlie Wilson made a new ally out of a seemingly weak force, which eventually served to benefit the United States as the Cold War progressed. Eventually, the Soviets withdrew its forces in Afghanistan, and the USSR crumbled some years later.

You are not limited as well as to make dependent the weak. You can also make dependent the powerful, influential people as well. Michelangelo, for example, made Pope Julius II dependent on him, where the latter, though obviously irritated at the slow pace of Michelangelo’s magnum opus, had no choice but to continue on depending on his services to see the completion of the Sistine chapel frescoes. Michelangelo can always have a new patron, but Pope Julius II can never replace Michelangelo. Make yourself like Michelangelo to Pope Julius II, the same way as the US to the Afghan Resistance. Make yourself ‘irreplaceable’, so that while others depend on you, you sustain power. Your ability to sustain other people’s dependence on you places you in a unique and powerful position to demand and expect things and favors in return for your virtue (reliability), ultimately giving you control over your “dependents,” while rendering you indispensable to them.

Of course, one has to sustain this kind of relationship in order to sustain power. Going back to the Charlie Wilson story, after the troop pull-out of the soviets in Afghanistan in the late-1980s, the United States pulled-out its resources as well in Afghanistan. Humanitarian aid was not given, despite calls of Charlie Wilson on giving such aid to Afghanistan. Think about this: if the United States were able to give such support to the Afghans in the late 1980s, and have sustained the dependence of Afghanistan to the US, would there be a rise of the group called Taliban?

---

Ian Christian Ver P. CadeliƱa



PS: If interested to learn more about the life of Charlie Wilson, consider watching the released movie about him, entitled "Charlie Wilson's War".

LAW 27: PLAY ON PEOPLE’S NEED TO BELIEVE TO CREATE A CULTLIKE FOLLOWING

People have a need to have something or someone to believe in. This results in a belief system that they can devote themselves entirely. Also remember that people are interested in things that are mostly supernatural or fantasy.

Law 27 explains that anyone can create a cult as long as they follow five easy steps:

Keep it Vague; Keep it Simple.

Emphasize the Visual and the Sensual over the Intellectual.

Borrow the forms of organized Religion to structure the Group

Disguise your source of income

Set-up an Us-Versus-Them Dynamic

In short, these steps prevent the people from really thinking and being skeptics. People are entranced by the promise of receiving greatness from their leader by the things they are asked to follow or do. These steps create a mist of lies that are seen as true and concrete things by the followers. The law forces the people to turn to worshipping false idols, which from a Christian perspective, is a grave sin.

One instance in which this law is depicted is from the historical context. In 1653, Francesco Borri told everyone with great enthusiasm and elaboration that the archangel Michael had given him the power to see people’s souls. The people were swayed by his convincing speech that they began to follow him.

This law takes advantage of the fact that the more people involved, the easier it is for one person to be swayed by the thoughts of others in the group. “Before God we are all equally wise - and equally foolish.” - Albert Einstein


Maria Alexis D. Salaveria

Law 8: Make Other People Come to You - Use Bait if Necessary

This law, I believe is perhaps one of the most versatile and happily satisfying laws, mentioned in the book. Why? It is a law for destined victors, entailing the various levels of manipulation and exertion of control over others. Though very simple sounding, and may seem like a law for lazy bums, the implications of making others come to you, benefit you in more ways than you may believe.

Its all about control and manipulation.

Why spend so much energy in looking for the opportune moment of victory, when you can have others reveal it to you themselves?

As was the ever dangerous and powerful Napoleon. Baited, taunted at the Isle of Elba, Napoleon, in his exile, practically ran himself to defeat at Waterloo. Forcing an already bankrupt France into a costly campaign at his return, Napoleon destroyed his chances of ever rising into power again.

And of course, to be able to fell such a great man, Talleyrand, orchestrated an elaborate trap, setting the bait, playing on Napoleon's pride, creating the illusion of an easy vengeance, while having full control of the environment, that finally brought the great beast to its knees.

But it does not limit itself to combat or war. A person who commands the attention and the presence of others, commands reverence and respect. It is same in the sense that an orator who gets flocked by numerous people, is easier to take seriously, than one who goes around looking for his audience.

You really just have to know what kind of bait you're going to prepare.

Know your target, find that bait you just know they can't resist. Be it a promise of conquest, revenge, welfare, riches, safety or love.

And watch as they slowly come to you and walk right into the palm of your hands. Its as if they pick up and attach the strings themselves. Make them believe that they are in control, make them think that they have the opportunity to strike.

All you have to do is wait and keep yourself safe within your home and watch as everyone becomes your eager quarry.


Mark Bantayan
II BS MIS
Hi18 N

Law 22: USE THE SURRENDER TACTIC: TRANSFORM WEAKNESS INTO POWER

How do you escape a bear attack?

  1. Play dead or lay motionless on the ground
  2. Pretend you are Steve Irwin and wrestle the animal
  3. Run home crying to your mother

Law 22 says: Option A

Why option A? The most probable reason bears have for attacking you is self-defense. A male bear will attack if it believes you are intruding on his personal space. A female bear will attack you if she identifies you as a danger to her cubs. If you lie still, the bear will be less likely to attack you. You will not be a threat to the bear.. You can scamper off to the safety of your La-Z-Boy later.

Law 22 states that if you are the weaker party in a struggle for power, your best chance for survival is surrender. Surrender doesn’t mean giving up the fight.. To your enemy, it will seem like you have granted him victory. In reality, you have done three things: A) bought yourself time to formulate an exit strategy B) irritated your enemy by not giving him the fight he expected you to put up, and C) initiated the wait for his power over you to wane. If you are weak and decide to meet your enemy with aggression, you give him the satisfaction of bloodying you with defeat. If you meet him with arms raised, either he will be more amenable or he will be unsettled. YOUR SURRENDER IS NOW A TOOL OF POWER.

The Problem with Martyrdom

The reversal of surrender is martyrdom. Martyrdom is a passive-aggressive way to deal with your enemy. It is like saying that you would rather die than switch loyalties. But, the problem with dying for a cause you support is that you don’t instantly gain the renown of Joan of Arc or Lorenzo Ruiz. Dying for something you believe in doesn’t mean you’ll instantly strike inspiration in the hearts of people. Your death will not always mean something great. Imagine all the people who have died fighting for a cause. There are millions of them, yet they are nameless to us.

When you face the enemy and decide to take the path of martyrdom, that’s it for you. There is no Plan B, in case Plan A goes up in smoke. If you choose to use surrender as a tool, you will live on to exact revenge on those that smote you. If you choose to live, you can see your plan through. If you surrender and live on, there’s a good chance you’ll get the upper hand back if you play your cards right.



-Camille Martinez

LAW7: GET OTHERS TO DO THE WORK FOR YOU, BUT ALWAYS TAKE THE CREDIT

According to the book, this law states that in order to maximize your success in a span of a lifetime, you must master the art of manipulation— having others do the dirty work for you and giving them little or no real incentive. This makes you capable of taking full advantage of others’ wisdom, knowledge, and legwork to further your own cause. It will save you a lot of time and energy to accomplish various tasks, leading you to receive more than you deserve and resulting in your gaining of a godlike aura of speed and efficiency.

This law actually encourages people to act like vultures. An animal that survives the jungle’s dire setting through devouring the animals that another predator or that nature had killed, thus obtaining nourishment from the fruits of another animals’ labor. All he needs to do is to acquire patience to circle above the jungle and wait for his prey.

Moreover, in order to be on top of others, you must learn not to complain about the injustice happening in our society. Doing such will not only render you helpless, but also leave you impoverished. Rather, learn how to thrive off of others’ skills and creativity. It is better to protect yourself and join the game. You only need to establish a power base and become a vulture yourself. Find people with the skills and creativity you lack to work under you and make them believe that their receiving enough while you simply take the credit from their work.

In the Philippine setting, this law is most apparent in our ways of doing business. Take for example the rise of “networking” here in our country. In this kind of business, there are two ways of earning money. First, you earn money by selling the products offered by your company. Second, you earn money through recruiting people who will work under you by recruiting other people while offering them a certain amount of incentive, much similar to the commission you get. In this business, you will earn more by recruiting people: the more you recruit, the more you earn. In addition, you obtain money from these people’s hard work. If you motivate them well enough and convince them that recruiting other people will also do them good, you will gain more. Once you establish a good foundation, you can just bum around and still be filthy rich.

Never do yourself what others can do for you…

Authority: There is much to be known, life is short, and life is not life without knowledge. It is therefore an excellent device to acquire knowledge from everybody. Thus, by the sweat of another’s brow, you win the reputation of being an oracle.

-Baltasar Gracian, 1501 - 1658


Sean Paul Baldemeca HI18 - N