Seem to want something in which you are actually not at all interested and your enemies will be thrown off the scent, making all kinds of errors in their calculations. Also, the less you say, the less risk you run of saying something foolish, even dangerous. 9 th of the top ten quotesīy saying less than necessary you create the appearance of meaning and power. Never waste valuable time, or mental peace of mind, on the affairs of others - that is too high a price to pay. If deception is the most potent weapon in your arsenal, then patience in all things is your crucial shield. In most areas of life, the less you say, the more profound and mysterious you appear. Be particularly careful with sarcasm - the momentary satisfaction you gain with your biting words will be outweighed by the price you pay. Learn the lesson - once the words are out, you cannot take them back. Keep friends for friendship, but work with the skilled and competent. The key to power, then, is the ability to judge who is best able to further your interests in all situations. You are trying to work, not make friends friendliness (real or false) only obscures that fact. 4 th of the top ten quotesĪll working situations require a kind of distance between people. Emotions cloud reason, and if you cannot see the situation clearly, you cannot prepare for and respond to it with any degree of control.
An emotional response to a situation is the single greatest barrier to power, a mistake that will cost you a lot more than any temporary satisfaction you might gain by expressing your feelings.
The most important of these skills, and power’s crucial foundation, is the ability to master your emotions.