Individual Power

Published 21 Dec 2016

UNLEASHING THE POWER OF AN INDIVIDUAL

It definitely begins from the will, the desire, the determination – to be prime, to be supreme, to excel. And from such means to such end – the art, the need, the call to unleash the power of an inpidual spells what living is all about.

An inpidual is gifted with maximum faculties to utilize and unleash. Such gifts are for purposes of attaining one’s rightful place in society and in the world. Such gifts are the instruments to define a person’s meaning to his friends and to his family and to his community. And such gifts are the inspiration that motivates others to give back and recycle the merits derived therefrom.

And to realize, appreciate and apply such gifts would redound to instilling impeccable values and principles; to improving lives of others, to achieving the rightful place in this world; to gaining the respect and recognition of other human beings. To wield the power to be and be the power that could be will require the consistency and discipline of an inpidual to abide by inspirations and motivations of principles.

BEGIN WITH IMAGE HANDLING

Law 5: SO MUCH DEPENDS ON REPUTATION – GUARD IT WITH YOUR LIFE

Law 6: COURT ATTENTION AT ALL COST

Law 16: USE ABSENCE TO INCREASE RESPECT AND HONOR

Law 18: DO NOT BUILD FORTRESSES TO PROTECT YOURSELF: ISOLATION IS DANGEROUS

Law 25: RE-CREATE YOURSELF

Law 26: KEEP YOUR HANDS CLEAN

Law 34: BE ROYAL IN YOUR OWN FASHION: ACT LIKE A KING TO BE TREATED LIKE ONE

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

Law 46: NEVER APPEAR TOO PERFECT

Law 47: DO NOT GO PAST THE MARK YOU AIMED FOR; IN VICTORY, LEARN WHEN TO STOP

Law 48:ASSUME FORMLESSNESS

The summation of these laws centers on how an inpidual should project himself/herself. The ingredients all appropriate proportioned, from: an impeccable reputation, honor; to enhancing the positive aspects of one’s physical attributes; to being distant between people and events as necessary; to the consistency of “making a new ‘you’ every now and then; to strategically avoiding mistakes as much as possible; to balance between being available and overseen; to bearing oneself elegantly and regally while exuding finesse and class and confidence; to balancing the aura of perfection and vulnerability; to knowing when achievement is at its height and then relish the laurel for a while; and then to finally being flexible and adaptable.

I reckon these insights thru how meticulous I prepare what I will wear the next day, for example. I also try to organize the schedule of the next day to give an impression of discipline. And I learn as much as possible every feature of a circumstance, an event, a problem before jumping to a solution.

ADOPT THE MICHIAVELLIC INSIGHT

Law 2: NEVER PUT TOO MUCH TRUST IN FRIENDS, LEARN HOW TO USE ENEMIES

Law 7: GET OTHERS TO DO THE WORK FOR YOU, BUT ALWAYS TAKE THE CREDIT

Law 8: MAKE OTHER PEOPLE COME TO YOU – USE BAIT IF NECESSARY

Law 10: INFECTION: AVOID THE UNHAPPY AND UNLUCKY

Law 11: LEARN TO KEEP PEOPLE DEPENDENT ON YOU

Law 14: POSE AS A FRIEND, WORK AS A SPY

Law 21: PLAY A SUCKER TO CATCH A SUCKER – SEEM DUMBER THAN YOUR MARK

Law 27: PLAY ON PEOPLE’S NEED TO BELIEVE TO CREATE A CULT-LIKE FOLLOWING

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

Law 33: DISCOVER EACH MAN’S THUMBSCREW

Law 42: STRIKE THE SHEPHERD AND THE SHEEP WILL SCATTER

Law 43: WORK ON THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF OTHERS

It is normal that instinctively an inpidual’s first concern is that of survivorship. And surviving calls to fore all means – and yes, to justify an end. To reckon power in sustaining survivorship is to adopt the Machiavellic insight – of being ahead of others.

There is indeed a dangerous line drawn between abusing and using another person to achieve power but the summary of these laws considered in adopting the Machiavellic insight must be taken in good light. An inpidual must indeed learn how to be very discerning in giving trust; how to possible utilize talents of others to one’s benefit; how to lure others to be on your side; how to choose the right, positive people to be with; how to be charming and yet wary and careful of others; how to show that you are the strength for others; how to be friendly to everybody and yet undertake tasks with discernment; how to seem incompetent and yet all knowing; how to discern the weakness of others and invest on them as you rectify them; and how to heighten the senses of others and yet not to be noticed of manipulation.

As I for example am a delight to others in my life, I still safeguard myself from the pitfall of being cheated upon. Whenever I buy something, I make sure that the quality will serve my purpose and the price is right and the quantity will be available.

In group activities, I could look into the balance of being the most dependable person and yet I will not allow to be abused. I could gain the confidence and trust of others and yet will not give all of myself too.

BALANCE WITH THE ART OF DIPLOMACY

Law 1: NEVER OUTSHINE THE MASTER

Law 12: USE SELECTIVE HONESTY AND GENEROSITY TO DISARM YOUR VICTIM

Law 13: WHEN ASKING FOR HELP, APPEAL TO PEOPLE’S SELF-INTEREST (NEVER TO THEIR MERCY OR GRATITUDE)

Law 15: CRUSH YOUR ENEMY TOTALLY

Law 17: KEEP OTHERS IN SUSPENDED TERROR: CULTIVATE AN AIR OF UNPREDICTABILITY

Law 19: KNOW WHO YOU’RE DEALING WITH – DO NOT OFFEND THE WRONG PERSON

Law 20: DO NOT COMMIT TO ANYONE

Law 32: PLAY TO PEOPLE’S FANTASIES

Law 38: THINK AS YOU LIKE BUT BEHAVE LIKE OTHERS

Law 39: STIR UP WATERS TO CATCH FISH

Law 40: DESPISE THE FREE LUNCH

Law 41: AVOID STEPPING INTO A GREAT MAN’S SHOES

As one would have to be wary of others, the mature and intelligent recognition and acceptance that there are others who are likewise and equally magnanimous about their own power – must be put to place.

The guidelines of the 48 Laws of Power sums a group of guidelines that give insights on being diplomatic in recognizing that the power that is already existent in others can be siphoned back to oneself thru the skill of allowing such powerful person dwell in his limelight and then sharing it; the skill of honesty to give credit where credit is due; the skill of availing the abilities of others while proving that it is to their benefit that it shall be so; the skill of not completely giving oneself to another; the skill to charm and avoiding unnecessary enmities and discourses; and the skill of being able to blend as the others and yet retaining one’s inpiduality.

I keep these thoughts in mind while I participate in teamwork, in sports, in community activities – even in my family. I recognize who are my leaders; I respect my elders; I acknowledge contribution of others – and at the same time, I find out that they value me for my acceptance of authority and yet contribute my inpiduality at the right place, right time, right quantity.

I do not interpret it as a diminishing factor if I recognize authorities and superiors above. Neither does it make me a lesser person if somebody else is better than me. It is a matter of perspective that one’s weakness or disabilities can also be a merit: wherein it should serve as a challenge to surpass such weakness and disability to overcome a hurdle. And that is what power is really all about.

THE BIG PICTURE

Law 3: CONCEAL YOUR INTENTIONS

Law 4: ALWAYS SAY LESS THAN NECESSARY

Law 9: WIN THROUGH YOUR ACTIONS, NEVER THROUGH AN ARGUMENT

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

Law 23: CONCENTRATE YOUR FORCES

Law 24: PLAY THE PERFECT COURTIER

Law 28: ENTER ACTION WITH BOLDNESS

Law 29: PLAN ALL THE WAY TO THE END

Law 30: MAKE YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS SEEM EFFORTLESS

Law 35: MASTER THE ART OF TIMING

Law 37: CREATE COMPELLING SPECTACLES

Law 44: DISARM AND INFURIATE WITH THE MIRROR EFFECT

Law 45: PREACH THE NEED FOR CHANGE, BUT NEVER REFORM TOO MUCH AT ONCE

Working and achieving one’s power in one’s life and being is to finally look to the picture. Everyone in outlining his ambition, his mission, his purpose must know the end totality of what everything will be all about. There is likewise the need to understand and recognize the length of time that effect of power will be applied.

Treading thru careful insights as intentions are not all too revealed; thru meticulous planning and yet holding aces up one’s sleeve; thru positive actions that inspire; thru acknowledgement of incompetencies and rebuilding from them; thru concentrating energies at the right time; thru exemplification to others and avoiding as much unnecessary arguments or debates as much as possible; thru mustering and mastering techniques that will create lasting impressions; thru proving the need for alternative courses of action and yet not forcing thru a sweeping change.

In my daily life, I know that I will always have problems to face. And definitely I also know that those problems do not involve myself alone. The same with any ambition or goals I have. I am not the only one that will be involved in achieving my ambition or goals.

For me to achieve the power to overcome problems and reach my dreams, I look at the overall picture of what it will take and how will I apply skills, techniques and strategies and where will all of my considerations take me.

I know that as I will and as I am determined, I must plan. I also have to know who will be of help to me and at the same time who will be useless to me. I have to analyze as to what are the things I will need to use and those things that I cannot use. I have to also accept those things, circumstances, people that can be changed or those that cannot be changed. And I must be wise enough to know the difference.

AND TO HAVE POWER MEANS…….

To achieve power is self-gratifying. Power gives satisfaction. Power gives confidence. Achieving it can make you seemingly complete. But the power of an inpidual is a state of continuing challenge. Achieving it is not the end of it. It is actually the beginning of analyzing what to do with it.

A very thin line exists between the positive and negative repercussions of power. It is a very big responsibility to possess power. It is ultimately the ability to adopt decency in using power for every positive reason and purpose.

Establishing an inpidual’s resolve to maintain power must be for the common good of others around him in this essay. When the long fought struggles and unrelenting efforts have been exerted to achieve it is done and over, it can only be consider a success by an inpidual if the said power derives the best of other human being.

Reference:

Greene, Robert. “The 48 Laws of Power”, September 2000

Did it help you?