On Having Power: The Source of Power
Understanding and Overcoming Control, Influence and Seduction
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WHAT IS THE SOURCE OF POWER? “In the country of the blind, the one-eyed man is King.” Erasmus, (1469-1536) The causes and conditions of the Power used against you are located in you. Others will apply a Mechanism to those conditions and as a result, Control you, Influence you, and Seduce you. The causes and conditions are your Needs. The Needs you experience as a human being. The Needs you are conscious of, and the ones you are unconscious of but, by virtue of your human nature, exist. But for your Needs Lucy, there is no Power. But for your compelling will to survive, my threat to your life would not control you. But for your commitment to your dreams, wishes, and desires, I could not use my money, position, or skills to influence you. But for your love of family, friends, ideas, yourself, I could not use my Mechanisms to push you or pull you or point you in the directions I choose. But for your Needs, in the limitless form they take, I would not be able to exercise Power. But for your requirements for survival, your limitless desires, or your attachments to people, things, and ideas, I have no Power. Power cannot exist without Need. The Source of the Power against you is the Need within you. This is where the Power originates. The Source of Power is Need. Simple. But not what you would expect. Useful. Beyond your imagination. Different? Yes, the difference between an Actor and a Subject. Lucy, this is the beginning of something new. Control is an Illusion. All we control is what we do right now. All powerful people control is how they respond to the circumstances which are before them. These circumstances include the Needs of the Subject. Powerful people respond to the Needs of the Subject. They use Mechanisms to impact those Needs and thus, impact the Subject’s behavior. The Source of the Power is the Need of the Subject. Without Need, there is no Power. The powerful person responds to everything that they know about you. What they know about you comes from what you say, what you do and how you appear. Together with everything that they know about the Needs of being human, they use these observations to have Power.
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About the Book
There is no such thing as “powerless.” Life is not lived minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day. Life is lived Choice by Choice. Take back Choice. On Having Power is about exposing the illusory nature of control, influence and seduction. Learn how to recognize a power dynamic when it is upon you. Understand how your personal needs combine with others’ abilities to create feelings of fear, anger and excitement which control, influence and seduce your choices. Create a new balance between the power others use on you and the power you didn’t know you had. Take back choice and freedom through new opportunities for collaboration and compassion. Change your power-based relationships at home, at work and in society.
About the Author
With over 30 years spent in courtrooms, boardrooms and classrooms, Les Smith uses his teaching, training and writing to shatter the myths of power and reveal the simple methods of overcoming control, influence and seduction. He seeks to change the way we see power and take back the ability to thrive through freedom of choice.