September 16, 2024 • 2hr 7min
#839 - Robert Greene - 12 Raw Truths About Gaining Power & Respect
Modern Wisdom
Key Takeaways
- Modern philosophy has lost its soul and become too focused on abstract concepts rather than practical wisdom for living. Philosophy should have a direct connection to daily life.
- Acquiring knowledge and skills is crucial - they are like gold that can be transformed into something more valuable. The time not spent learning skills will eventually catch up to you.
- Reputation is the cornerstone of power. Through reputation alone you can intimidate and win. Once it slips, you become vulnerable. Never let others define your reputation for you.
- You are often your own worst enemy. Many people waste time dreaming of the future instead of engaging in the present. Since nothing seems urgent, they're only half-involved in what they do.
- Being attacked is a sign of importance. You should relish the attention and chance to prove yourself when facing opposition or challenges.
- Use absence to increase respect and cultivate value through scarcity. The more you are seen and heard from, the more common you appear. Temporary withdrawal can make you more talked about and admired.
- Embrace what makes you weird, odd, or different - that's your source of power. Identify your unique qualities and fuse them together to become irreplaceable.
- It's a curse to have everything go right on your first attempt. Failure and challenges teach valuable lessons that lead to long-term success.
- For young men feeling lost, embrace positive masculinity. Channel aggression and ambition productively. Develop self-control and treat others with respect from a position of strength.
Introduction
In this episode of Modern Wisdom, host Chris Williamson interviews Robert Greene, renowned author and expert on human nature, power, and strategy. Greene is known for bestselling books like "The 48 Laws of Power" and "The Art of Seduction." The wide-ranging conversation covers topics including philosophy, acquiring skills, reputation management, embracing uniqueness, dealing with success and failure, and advice for young men in the modern world.
Topics Discussed
The Problem with Modern Philosophy (4:24)
Greene argues that modern philosophy has lost its connection to practical wisdom for living:
- Philosophy should have a direct connection to daily life, not just abstract concepts
- Thinkers like Socrates didn't rely on scientific studies, but used reasoning to gain insights
- Many modern philosophers are too focused on data and mathematical formulas
- Greene prefers philosophies like Zen that ground wisdom in day-to-day reality
He states: "I want to know how to live. I want to know how to think. I want to know how to breathe."
The Importance of Acquiring Knowledge and Skills (12:12)
Greene emphasizes the critical importance of developing skills and knowledge:
- Skills and knowledge are like gold that can be transformed into something valuable
- Even if your path isn't clear, acquiring skills prepares you for future opportunities
- Greene spent years developing writing skills before his breakthrough with "48 Laws of Power"
- Developing skills literally changes your brain and creates new neural connections
He notes: "When you develop that skill when you're serious about it...you change your brain. You rewire your brain."
The Power of Reputation (32:07)
Greene discusses how reputation is a cornerstone of power:
- Through reputation alone, you can intimidate and win
- Once reputation slips, you become vulnerable to attacks
- Never let others define your reputation - you must actively shape it
- Consistency is key - your reputation should have a clear "shape" people can grasp
He states: "People are continually judging you. So you have to be aware, you have to think before you post."
Being Your Own Worst Enemy (1:08:21)
Greene explains how people often sabotage themselves:
- Many waste time dreaming of the future instead of engaging in the present
- When nothing seems urgent, people are only half-involved in their work
- The human brain evolved to work well under pressure and deadlines
- Create artificial pressure and deadlines for yourself to boost productivity
He notes: "Your brain needs pressure. It needs constant pressure and stress."
Embracing Opposition and Challenges (1:32:26)
Greene argues that facing opposition can be beneficial:
- Being attacked is a sign you're important enough to be a target
- You should relish the attention and chance to prove yourself
- Having enemies and challenges pushes you to higher levels of achievement
- Without resistance, you become "mush" and don't amount to anything
He states: "If everything is easy in life, if everyone loves what you're gonna do, and you have no enemies, you have no opposition, nothing to resist, you're just gonna be mush."
Using Absence to Increase Respect (1:36:49)
Greene explains the power of strategic absence:
- The more you're seen and heard from, the more common you appear
- Temporary withdrawal can make you more talked about and admired
- It's about finding the right balance between absence and presence
- Cultivate value through scarcity - don't be constantly available
He notes: "If you're inundating somebody, you don't give them room to fantasize. You don't give them room to think about you."
Embracing Your Uniqueness (46:26)
Greene emphasizes the importance of embracing what makes you different:
- If you're replaceable, you will be replaced
- Identify what makes you weird, odd, or unique - that's your source of power
- Resist social pressure to conform and fit in
- Fuse your unique qualities together to become irreplaceable
He states: "Your oddness, what makes you weird, what makes you different...that is who you are. Those are signs from deep within."
The Curse of Early Success (1:19:51)
Greene discusses why it can be detrimental to have everything go right on your first attempt:
- Early success can lead to overconfidence and lack of perspective
- Failure teaches valuable lessons about resilience and strategy
- Success when you're young can be the worst thing if you lack discipline and perspective
- It's better to face challenges and build skills before major success
He notes: "Sometimes success when you're in your twenties is the worst thing that can happen to you because you have no discipline. You have no perspective."
Advice for Young Men Feeling Lost (1:54:32)
Greene offers guidance for young men struggling to find their place:
- Be comfortable with your masculinity - it's not inherently negative
- Channel aggression and ambition productively into work, sports, etc.
- Develop self-control and discipline as masculine virtues
- Treat women and others with respect from a position of strength
- Find positive male role models who embody healthy masculinity
He states: "Your aggression, your assertiveness, your testosterone, it's a good thing. It's how things get done. It's what energizes you, what puts you in the world, it what makes you ambitious, what makes you assert yourself and motivate yourself. It has to be channeled. It has to be disciplined."
Conclusion
This wide-ranging conversation between Chris Williamson and Robert Greene covers numerous insights on success, power, and human nature. Key themes include embracing your unique qualities, strategically managing your reputation and presence, channeling ambition productively, and learning from both success and failure. Greene emphasizes the importance of practical wisdom, acquiring skills, and finding balance in traits like masculinity. Overall, the discussion provides thought-provoking perspectives on navigating life, relationships, and career with greater awareness and intentionality.