Wednesday

48 Laws of Power

Law 6
Court Attention at all Cost



Everything is judged by its appearance; what is unseen counts for nothing. Never let yourself get lost in the crowd, then, or buried in oblivion. Stand out. Be conspicuous, at all cost. Make yourself a magnet of attention by appearing larger, more colorful, more mysterious, than the bland and timid masses.


I’m not sure if I agree with this law and I don’t have my text available for review of the subject matter, but what I will say is that this should be done with balance in mind. While you do want to stand out, you don’t want to come across ostentatious. I think there are subtle ways that we can interject our style, personality, work ethic, beauty, talent or other interpersonal skills without coming across as too arrogant. A failure to maintain balance will have you transgressing the law and thereby repulsing the very thing you are attempting to attract. In that vein, I suppose one can obtain some level of aesthetic power. I think this law would tend to work better in corporate and entertainment settings, but I would have to add a warning. Never court attention for a place of standing that you are not fully prepared to reign, because without substance power just might turn it's back on you. And suffice it to say at that point, all eyes will be on you.




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.

14 comments:

Eb the Celeb said...

Do I see a swagger jacker...

I do believe you jacked the layout from my sports blog...lol

all good though because I jacked it from someone too... not like I can make html code or anything...

I love how it allows you to put so much on one page

Rich Fitzgerald said...

Eb, I've never been to your sports blog. I'd much rather play sports than talk about them.

Actually, I was at True Urban Queen's and I saw the link for the template because I always wanted the three column layout.

Swagger Jacker -- Ain't no patent on cool.

KIKI said...

LMAO@Eb callin you a swagger jacker. HA!

But about this law...ummmm Iont know. Yes, of course we all want to stand out; but I got a problem with the "whats on the inside means nothing" part. Sure whats on the outside may be what attracts us, but without substanance on the inside, the outside no longer looks so appealing.

Ask me, the best way to stand out isn't to be loud or boistrous, flashy or gaudy. Best way is to have confidence. Confidence demands attention & when a confident person walks in a room, everyone notices them...and they never have to say a word.

Unknown said...

Okay I was looking at this qoute like this.

Say you want to be something. . .like an author or actress. You have to work the room as such even if you never been published or in a movie. You have to give the appearance of being what you want.
So I would work that party like I am an actress. Which for me, in my mind, I would be up and coming.
I leave an impression that I know my stuff, that I am going far,and I am someone people should get to know and for me it helps me to re-enforce in my mind and heart to go get what I want and don't stop til I get it.

And in the term of business that is what people do work a room, get to know people, stand out in the CEO's mind so, when something is needed you are the first he calls.

Of course there is balance so avoid being obnoxious or egotistical.

Anonymous said...

Kiki said it nicely "Confidence demands attention & when a confident person walks in a room, everyone notices them...and they never have to say a word."

Being the loudest or flashy doesn't necessarily mean you get the "right" kind of attention.

Darius T. Williams said...

I feel your point of view...balance is definitely important.

Organized Noise said...

I'm going to have to agree with you on balance. What's the point of decorating the outside and making it all nice if you have nothing inside. It just doesn't make sense. Logically, it would make sense to work from the outside in, unfortunately that's not possible because people go by what they see first.

12kyle said...

Stand out! I like that idea. I'm all about that. Good one, bruh

Unknown said...

FINALLY! I've been trying to post comments on your pages for nearly a week now, and all but ONE have failed at every attempt! I agree with you that this "law" deserves skepticism and that balance is a must when showcasing your talents, products, or personality. Honestly, I don't have a great deal of comfort with Robert Greene's books. I bought a copy of 48 LAWS under a good friend's advice, and the first lesson I gleaned from it is that reading Macchiavelli, Sun-tzu, Confucius, and Fanon enough times can lead a man to some devious places mentally. Are there some bits of wisdom in the book? Sure, there are some good insights into the uglier sections of the human heart and Man's way of thinking, but the idea of learning the art of manipulation to succeed in life just doesn't sit well with my conscience. Once upon a time, I would have been the poster child for such a book, but NOW--not for the kid...

Unknown said...

On another note, I'm glad someone finally gave a name for this three-column layout! Consider yourself JACKED in a minute, playboy! LOL!

T. S. Snowden said...

I have to agree with KiKi. I dont know about that "standing out at all costs" bit because it depends on how you stand out. being obnoxious makes a person stand out but the end result is typically never worth it...
good post.

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

im like the opposite
dont like attention

i.can't.complain. said...

i don't seek attention

however i don't agree that silence isn't effective.

i think being too "in-your-face" can be more of a flaw than silence

-1-

Anonymous said...

You are right when you say that sometimes we could make the mistake of courting attention that we are not prepared to "reign." That is a powerful statement. There is also the mistake of seeking attention for the wrong reasons and standing out for the wrong reasons. One must be very careful when trying to stand out from the rest.