Transcription
The 48 Laws of Power, Law 25: Recreate Yourself. Do not accept the role society forces upon you.
Constantly pay attention to your image, from a striking yet not tiresome persona, and become the master of your own image. Do not let others define you. Incorporate dramatic means into your public posture and actions. In this way, your power in the public eye will be elevated, and your reputation and honor will surpass what your original life afforded you.
What does this mean? Essentially, it's about managing your persona. In today's era, it's not just celebrities and politicians, but almost everyone is doing this. KOLs, bosses, athletes, even ordinary people posting on their Instagram are presenting a designed version of themselves to the world.
Robert Greene wants to tell us not to accept the roles society has pre-arranged for us. Many people, from birth or due to their surroundings, are already given a definition. For example: "You are introverted, you are not a leader, you are just an ordinary person, you can't handle big occasions, you're not sophisticated enough, you shouldn't wear bright colors, you'll never be the protagonist in your life." Questions like: "What kind of person are you? Where should you be? What should you say? How should you dress? What kind of personality should you have?" are all told to you. Over time, we begin to accept the roles defined by others.
Rob Green doesn't completely negate this. He says the world itself is a stage, and many successful people are not the most authentic. Instead, they are those who know how to manage their image. Actors are always performing in society; the difference is the degree of performance and whether you are aware that you are performing.
On the one hand, some people are born with a star quality. On the other hand, some people always look like supporting actors. We can't completely escape this performance, but this performance has a real problem: a problem of scale. Are you using this mask to create your image, or is this mask consuming you? This law explores such a question.
The author provides two examples: one is the example of Julius Caesar, and the other is the famous French novelist George Sand. It is believed that Caesar's brilliance was not in his military prowess, but in his ability to turn himself into a myth. Caesar can be called the ancestor of public relations. In his youth, before he held power, he was just an ordinary official. At that time, he already began to engage in self-entertainment activities, such as performances and parades. These grand theatrical performances were not for entertainment, but to associate these grand scenes with his name.
In 49 BC, Caesar and Pompey were in conflict, almost leading to war. At that time, the senators were debating whether to die with Pompey or with Caesar. There was a river called the Rubicon that separated Italy from Gaul. If Caesar crossed the Rubicon back to Italy, it would mean war. Suddenly, Caesar seemed to receive a dramatic message, as if we see in a movie: he took a large pile of dung, pointed a sword at the river, and with a dramatic aura, declared, "We accept the will of the gods, and pursue their call to those who oppose us." After this grand spectacle, the entire army cheered, and everyone followed him. Thus, Caesar crossed the Rubicon. The following year, Caesar returned to Rome, becoming the famous dictator in Roman history.
Even Caesar's attire, his entourage, his way of entering and exiting, and his speeches were all meticulously designed. In Rome, Caesar's legions were the bravest and most loyal armies. In 45 BC, Caesar arrived in Egypt. He chose the best time to bring the most famous Egyptian queen to Rome. However, the Queen unexpectedly came to him in person. "Caesar did not summon you here, it was destiny." "Yes, it was destiny."
You see, everything he did was newsworthy. Caesar helped Cleopatra fight her younger brother, a heroic rescue. Of course, the Roman people loved Caesar. They said Caesar always put on shows and organized large events, and there were always free pastries. However, his political opponents hated him. By 44 BC, Brutus participated in his assassination. On his deathbed, Caesar was still performing. He pulled up his toga, covered his face, to die with dignity, and left a line that seemed rehearsed for a long time: "I never expected that even you would betray me." This is not an exaggeration. Caesar was so dramatic that even a play would not be so exaggerated.
The Roman people themselves loved to watch plays. In ancient Rome, plays were a major event. The number of people watching plays was essentially family by family; as soon as there was a performance, they would go to watch. It was like religion. He was also the first public figure in history to understand the connection between power and drama. He integrated drama into his life, and his own life was like a drama. Every time he addressed the public, it was as if he was reading from a script. Even his posture, actions, and where he walked were meticulously designed. This is a positive example of applying this law.
There is another example: a French playwright, George Sand. The name itself doesn't sound like a woman, does it? In 19th-century France, women writers were not taken seriously. People at that time thought women should stay at home. So, she did something very bold: she decided to recreate her persona. She began to write under a male name, wore men's clothes, and spoke and acted like a man. As a result, the entire Parisian literary world was not fooled. She was not a tomboy, nor did she want to be a man. But because society was unwilling to accept her as she was, she created an identity that allowed her to act freely.
OK, the book does not mention negative examples. I will add a negative example: Yukio Mishima. He was a controversial figure. In his youth, he had a sickly complexion, a bit effeminate, a typical intellectual image. He was born in 1925 and died in 1970. He was active in Japan after World War II. If you don't understand that era, you won't understand how Mishima became so sensitive. After Japan's defeat, it experienced an identity crisis. Previously, Japan had the spirit of Bushido, the emperor, and national glory. But after the defeat, the entire country was occupied and reformed by the United States. Society and the economy were influenced by American culture. Of course, many people thought this was progress. But Mishima did not think so. He felt that Japan's soul had died. Therefore, you can see that many of his literary works explore such themes.
One of his most famous representative works is "Confessions of a Mask." This work is his semi-autobiographical work. It generally talks about a young man's loneliness, his inability to integrate into society, his fantasies, and so on. Another famous work is "The Temple of the Golden Pavilion." This story is based on a true event. It tells of a monk who was so obsessed with the beauty of the Golden Pavilion that he burned it down. What does he want to express? If a person pursues ultimate beauty, they may ultimately head towards destruction. In his works, he often discusses similar themes, such as disillusionment, spiritual death, and the decay of youth. Later, he became increasingly obsessed with death, beauty, sacrifice, and the emperor, and even founded a private armed organization.
The most shocking event was in 1970 when Mishima stormed the headquarters of the Japan Self-Defense Forces, held the commander hostage, and then went to the balcony to declare a coup d'état to restore true Japanese rule. But the soldiers below completely ignored him, and even looked at him and laughed as if he were a fool. This moment was very tragic because Mishima finally discovered that the world he imagined was completely different from the real world. Thus, he returned to the room and committed suicide. After Mishima's death, his evaluation was very polarized. Some people considered him an extreme nihilist, a militarist, a dangerous thinker. Others considered him a very honest artist who treated his life as a work of art. But whether you admire him or oppose him, his life was like a drama, and to some extent, he was consumed by this dramatic persona. In the end, he himself could not distinguish whether he was truly living or acting.
OK, let's briefly summarize the key points of this law of power. If you were to summarize this law in one sentence, it would be: Do not let the world define you; actively design yourself. This design is not just about external appearance, but about the presentation of your entire persona. For example, the way you speak, the way you appear, the way you control your emotions, your clothing, the atmosphere you create, your mystery, even when to appear, when not to appear, when to speak, when to be silent – these are all part of power. This is one of the most important abilities for someone who wants to gain power: you must consciously recreate yourself. You should be like an artist, sculpting your image and personality bit by bit. Personality is not purely natural. In ancient times, only kings and nobles had the right to design their own images, and ordinary people could only live within their given identities. If you are a farmer, you are a farmer; if you are a servant, you are a servant; if you are a woman, you are a woman. But today's era is different. Today, with the internet, media, and social platforms, they provide an opportunity for all ordinary people to shape their personalities. Therefore, I believe this law is, to some extent, for today's KOL era.
The second key point of this law is that Robert Greene views life as a stage, and influential people all have actor-like qualities. Of course, the scale must be handled well. If you do it poorly, it becomes hypocrisy. But it's not about being completely authentic, as people like. Many people believe that true authenticity means showing everything on your face, expressing your emotions immediately, collapsing when you are hurt, and losing control when you are angry. This kind of expression is actually a sign of immaturity in life. Such people are unlikely to become leaders, because the public is very discerning. "Wow, you can't even control yourself over such small things, why should I follow you?" We see that many leaders have the characteristic of being able to control their emotions. It is not hypocrisy, but the ability to control one's emotions and adapt one's persona to different occasions. This is also why many political figures, celebrities, and big entrepreneurs are very different in private from their public personas. And in this world, people remember those who are dramatic and know how to perform dramatically. So, don't let people see all your cards. Be a scholar when facing intellectuals, a soldier when facing soldiers, and treat commoners as equals. When you can do this, you will become a leader. This is a very advantageous social skill.
OK, let's move to the last part. We will discuss the benefits and how to apply this law in our workplace and life, how to attack and defend. For example, in the workplace, we need to manage our first impression. People rely heavily on first impressions. Once your first impression is set, that's how you'll be perceived. It takes a lot of effort to change it. Your appearance, tone of voice, eye contact, and speaking rhythm during initial meetings should all be carefully considered, because the company is essentially a small political stage. Many people think the workplace is about your ability, your professionalism, and how hard you work, but that's not the case at all. How others perceive you is more important than who you truly are. We often see people whose abilities are good, but they never get the recognition. These people usually have a characteristic: they give the impression of having low resilience. When there is pressure, they panic. When they see something they don't like, they frown. When they see someone deny them, they rush to prove themselves, explain a lot, and love to explain. Their emotions are easily seen through. So, in the eyes of others, you are not a stable person. Conversely, those who carefully manage their stable image, even if they are very agitated inside, appear calm and composed. This approach widens the gap between people.
Let me give an example. Some people, when asked a question in a meeting, will immediately launch into a barrage of explanations, saying a lot of things. The final impression is that you are covering up, you are not admitting mistakes. But people who are good at public relations will do what? They will pause for a few seconds, then comfort the other party. Although both are refuting, the impression you give is completely different. The former is more like losing face, while the latter is more like finding a reliable person.
Some people, when they first enter the workplace, our parents traditionally teach us to endure hardship, and only then will you have opportunities. Of course, I don't completely deny this saying, but you must not go too far. If you let your impression become that of a low-value person, then the whole thing becomes troublesome. From then on, all the difficult tasks will be dumped on you. You will be asked to take the lead, asked to buy afternoon tea, asked to do everything. Anyone who scolds you or mocks you, you just take it. Over time, what do people think of you? They don't think of you as an emotional trash can. They think you should do these things. "Hey, what happened to you? You weren't like this before. You didn't used to be so accommodating. You've changed. Why are you always accommodating others? Always unable to refuse." This will not only make your work smoother and your relationships better, but it will also exhaust you. Instead of being accommodating to others, it's better to make yourself someone who can solve problems, someone who is resourceful, someone who acts only at critical moments, a killer who is chosen, not someone who can be called upon for anything. Don't express your opinions or speak easily when there's nothing to say. Never interrupt, and let no one know what you are truly thinking.
Especially, there is one more point that I think is important in the workplace. Many people like to talk a lot, babbling on and on. But sometimes you find that the more some people talk, the more they reveal their weaknesses, as if they are not afraid of the boss. On the other hand, some people usually speak very little, but every time they speak, it is very conclusive and like a final statement. Why are you in such a hurry? Just wait and see what others say. Observe the boss's reaction, see what the boss likes to hear, and then adjust your content. The impression you give will definitely be better than the person who speaks first and talks a lot. If possible, try to see others make mistakes before you act. These are all very practical methods.
There is also the matter of exiting. The final moment is also very important. Some people, when leaving a company, create a hostile relationship, and then they are uncooperative and uncooperative. This is not beneficial, because the workplace is too small, and companies will remember. So, before you leave, you must maintain your reputation, so that no one can fault you. Even if you really dislike the company, you must act as if, "Oh, I can't bear to leave this company. I've worked here for so many years. I don't know what I'll do if I can't work here anymore." You don't need to reveal your true emotions to others. Your colleagues and your boss don't want to know what you're truly thinking. Therefore, excessive transparency can make you easily seen through, easily defined, and even exploited. A mature person should always be polite, humane, and have a sense of proportion. This is not pure hypocrisy, but a skill in our social interactions.
Alright, today I'll keep it simple and won't say too much. That's all for this episode. I hope it can provide some inspiration to everyone. I am [Host's Name]. We will see you in the next episode. Goodbye.
[Music]
Be honest, be true, but no rules.
Walking light, they smile, polite.
Sharpen when you leave the room.
Never shine the hand that feeds.
Never reveal what you can't conceal.
Friends faster than open enemies.
Mercy is a language the powerful don't [Music] feel.
Everything is a disguise.
Every crown is borrowed.
Time needs their eyes.
Moves best when this is the [Music] beneath the crown.
Where speaks and truth backs down.
Weak when you are strong.
Strike once, but [Music] for action.
[Scream]
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Attor [Music]
Crush on you, can't sh[Music] them.
Presents never fight without exit.
Trarthe [Music] mirror desires.
Control the frame, prom[Music] nothing to deler.
More, let them swear it.
[Music] was the.
This is the same beneath the c[Music]rows.
Your [Music] smile, clean but thinking.
[Music] your rone.
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[Scream]
[Singing]
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Is leverage.
Fear is glue.
People what they can undo.
Law is written by who survives.
You bow [Music] to the ones alive.
To act, to wait, not to vanish, not to baom.
Chas face to.
Despite the free lunch, pay the [Music] price.
Never build where you can't burn.
Make chaos look like sacrifice.
Let others teach what you must learn.
Control the option.
Shape the field.
Force the choice.
But let them choose.
The king survived by what he withholds.
Not by the truth [Music] he.
This is [Music] the game beneath the crown.
No gods above, no morals bound.
Adapt, transform, [Music] never stay.
What can't be a rule?
You know yourself. [Music]
Kill the play, cold but not alone.
Body laws are ring.
[Scream]
Body [Music]
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Awake.
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