Wednesday

48 Laws of Power: Eight

Make other People come to you – use Bait if Necessary

When you force the other person to act, you are the one in control. It is always better to make your opponent come to you, abandoning his own plans in the process. Lure him with fabulous gains – then attack. You hold the cards.


I'm not sure where I heard the following, but it would be wise to remember. Beware of the person who promises something not within their power to give. It's amazing to me the cards people wave in your face to get you to act according to their motives, especially cards they have no control over. I learned this first hand during a stint of self employment. At times I would run into someone who proposed that they were so well connected that if I would extend them a deal, they could in turn hook me up with a plethora of business. To this day, I haven't seen it happen for me. What I have seen is the giving into of another's motives for a measure of gain that isn't concrete. Eventually I learned that these folks were just running game or trying to place themselves in a place of power over me. In each instance, I had the power to shut them down by not participating. You can do the same.

Can you recall a time someone promised you something just to get you to respond to them in a certain manner and then you found that what they were really doing is trying to manipulate you into giving them what they wanted? If so, tell us about it.



About the host:
Rich Fitzgerald is the author of the short story "One to Remember" featured in Love and Redemption (Bloggers' Delight Vol. 1), a collection of short stories by authors who blog. To read excerpts or to order a copy of the title, visit i-Lit. The book is also available on Amazon.

11 comments:

Unknown said...

"Can you recall a time someone promised you something just to get you to respond to them in a certain manner and then you found that what they were really doing is trying to manipulate you into giving them what they wanted? If so, tell us about it."

Uuuummmm Rich isn't that what men do?

Anonymous said...

Amazing post! I have seen people at work that have tried to place themselves in "authoritative postions," that they really don't have, just to make a new employee fall victim to picking up their share of work. Sometimes when you don't know, you follow the one that constantly guides you and seems to know what they are talking about. The best thing to do is to trust your instincts and learn the facts about anyone you do business with.

arychtexas said...

I think people who have them little avon or get rich scheme jobs always find a way to manipulate someone. I dont like stuff like that b/c they try to act genuine and friendly when the whole time they just trying to win your pockets not friendship.

Saadia said...

The 48 Laws of Power is one of my favorite books. It's fascinating, isn't it?

Darius T. Williams said...

Genius! I love this law!

IntrospectiveGoddess said...

Can you recall a time someone promised you something just to get you to respond to them in a certain manner and then you found that what they were really doing is trying to manipulate you into giving them what they wanted? If so, tell us about it...

I know men do this all the time as someone said and the only time I can think of that happening is when I gave a guy some and then found out later he was a total jerk that I shouldnt have given the time of day to. Another occasion where I have been manipulated to react is when I have had arguments with someone and they acted calmly while I blew off the handle....which only made me more pissed but that was the whole point for the person to see me lose my cool but I found ways to deal with that.

Blah Blah Blah said...

Maybe because I could have written this book in another life...I can say that I have been manipulated and fully aware I was being manipulated...but that in some twisted way...I was manipulating too.

Yea, I rarely make sense Rich...lol

Kaliente said...

OMG, i used to have this book..LOVED it! let someone borrow it, the rest is history..lol
that book is a mess...why my senior quote was taken from that book

"Lord protect me from my friends, i can take care of my enemies.." or something like that

All-Mi-T [Thought Crime] Rawdawgbuffalo said...

sounds like fishing

Organized Noise said...

I can definitely recall a time or two when I was the receipient of what turned out to be empty promises. Sadly, they were previous relationships and it had as much to do with me being gullable at the time as it did with those women knowing I was. Fortunately, it hasn't happened to me in a business situation though.

Eb the Celeb said...

I think we all have had a manipulator or two in our day...

dont feel like sharing though... it was more so because of love anyone... when I am in my normal state of mind its almost impossible to manipulate me but love makes you fall for things you usually wouldnt