The New Vision

NOVEMBER 2002 - Since these are times when new masters of our topsy turvy destiny are taking charge, it might be useful for them to master some of the key strategy actions that should lead to highly successful careers in the times ahead. It would be appropriate to call these the laws of stabbing others and getting ahead and it is also likely that many of these are already in use, but it never hurts to get a refresher course.

The first law is ‘Never Outshine The Master.’ It asks its followers to always make those above you feel comfortably superior. If you want to stay on their right side, never display your talents since this would lead to inspire in them fear and insecurity. Make your masters appear more brilliant than they are and you will rise. The second law advises never to put too much trust in friends. Instead it requires learning how to use your enemies to your advantage. It advises hiring former enemies since they will be more loyal than friends as they have to prove themselves. If you have no enemies, find ways of making some, then get busy using them.

Keep people off balance and in the dark. Never reveal your intentions and since they have no idea what you are up to, they can’t very well take advantage of you. In fact, go a step further and deliberately misguide them so far down the wrong path that by the time they realize it, the die is cast. The fourth law requires that you always say less than necessary. The more words you use, the more understood you are and this may wipe off the luster of your intellect and reveal you to be a commoner. Even if you are uttering banalities, make them vague, obtuse and sphinxlike so that no one fully understands you. Powerful people always say little. ‘You are with us or you are with them’. Remember?

Your reputation is precious. Guard it at all times, with all means and the more diabolical the means, the better. Reputation is the cornerstone of power. If it slips, you are open to attack. Learn to destroy enemies by opening holes in their reputations, and if these are based on falsehood, all the better. Once that’s done, step aside and let public opinion hang them. The next law is already very popular here. Appearances matter and everything is judged by what’s on the surface. Never get lost in a crowd or buried in oblivion. Stand out, be conspicuous and loom larger than you actually are. This impresses people.

Get others to do all the work for you, but remember to always take the credit. Use the wisdom, knowledge and hard work of others to further your own cause. Not only will you have an easy time but will appear super efficient. Your helpers will never be remembered and you can cash in on the glory, full time. In other words, never do yourself, what others can do for you. The next nauseating law suggests using bait if required to make other people come to you rather than you going to them, particularly when dealing with foes. Lure them with fabulous gains, then attack. You hold the cards.

Don’t win your case on arguments. It is much better to win through actions. Winning arguments is temporary, creating ill will and anger whereas getting the others to agree by force is far more effective. Always avoid unhappy and miserable people. You can die from someone else’s misery and why do that? Those who are miserable should be avoided like the plague. They can easily infect you. Stay with the winners instead. Law 11 states that you must always remain needed and wanted. That way people will always stay dependent on you and this means you have more power to influence them and keep them where you want them. Never teach enough to anybody since they will then no longer need you. Law 12 states that honesty must be used selectively, that is there is no percentage in being honest all the time. Use honesty and generosity strategically, thereby disarming people and creating a false illusion about your worth, which you can then leverage to deceive them.

When asking for help, appeal to people’s self interest and never to their mercy or gratitude. When turning to an ally for help, never remind him of the good deeds you might have done for him before. Instead, lure him with an angle that serves his interest so that he can respond enthusiastically. This will mislead him to help you and you will remain the winner. Always pose as a friend, but work as a spy. Knowing about your rival is critical. Use spies to gather information that keeps you a step ahead. Better still, play the super spy yourself. In social circles, probe and find, then use the information when you need it to further your interest. Every occasion is right for some spying. Law 15 strongly suggests that enemies should be crushed totally. If one ember is left alight, no matter how dimly it smoulders, a fire will eventually break out. Never stop half way. Total annihilation is far more preferable with no room for mercy. Crush the enemy, not only in body but even more in spirit.

Too much circulation makes your value go down. Remain elusive. Withdraw temporarily as it will lead to people talking about you and can lead to admiration or building a cult for you, which may not be there in reality. Create value through scarcity. Law 17 advocates keeping others in suspended terror by cultivating an air of unpredictability. Predictability leads to others taking charge. Keep them guessing by acting erratically and this will wear them out faster making your task of overpowering them, relatively easier. Never build a fortress around you. Isolation can be dangerous as it cuts you off from valuable information. Circulate, find allies, mingle, spy and use the crowds to shield yourself from enemies. Law 19 recommends utter care in choosing victims. There are many kinds of people and you might offend the wrong person. Assume that most are wolves in lamb clothing but choose carefully, then attack or move as the situation demands.

Never commit anything to anyone. Remain vague and you remain independent. Instead, become masters over others and play people against one another instead of letting them pursue you. Never act too smart. Play dumb and trick your opponent into believing he’s got you by the short and the curlies, then move in for the kill. Should you be in a weaker position, never fight, but surrender instead. There is no dishonour in this, only long-term advantage. Surrender gives you time to regroup, rethink, replan. Make surrender a power tool. Play the perfect courtier says law 24. Flatter openly, yield happily to superiors, act in a deferential manner and bow and scrape when in the company of powerful people. This works wonders.

Always remain a paragon of virtue and civility, even if you are not. Never be shy of shouting the loudest about your integrity particularly when you have none. Use others as scapegoats and keep your hands clean. When accosted, deny outright and act hurt. Maintain a spotless image more so if you have a soiled career. Most people avoid truth because it is ugly and unpleasant, so play to people’s fantasies. Never appeal to truth unless you are prepared for anger and hardship. Use fantasy and everyone will flock to it like moths to a flame. When dealing with the masses, there is nothing better than offering sublime bullshit to make them dream on.

Of course there are hundreds of people you can now spot with just a couple of dozen of these rules and most of them are doing well, but I cannot continue because the retching is getting worse by the minute. Stay ugly and deceitful please and remember, all that glitters, is gold.