Most people drift through life reacting instead of acting. The difference between being average and being ahead often comes down to mindset, timing, and restraint. These ten laws aren’t about manipulation or shortcuts; they’re about awareness, self-control, and strategic thinking. Apply them consistently, and you’ll start seeing situations more clearly, making smarter moves, and quietly pulling ahead of the crowd.
1. Don’t trust friends too much
I got this principle from Robert Greene's book, 48 Laws of Power. It is actually the second law, and one that is rarely talked of. But I came to realize that we apply this law in every facet of life. Friends are good, and they play a key role in our lives, but putting them close, many times, leads us to failure. I know we all understand that familiarity can breed contempt and lead to entitlement; sometimes, those outside our circle offer more honest value. A friend may never tell you those hard truths that an enemy says, in order to "hurt" you.
2. Speak less than necessary.
People will never attack what they do not know. Remember, information is power, and the less you reveal, the more control you keep. Being mean with information and revealing less creates a mystery. Nobody will know your next move. If you are an entrepreneur and have seen an opportunity that you would wish to exploit, keeping it to yourself until you have executed it will go a long way in ensuring its success.
3. Avoid striving for perfection. Embrace Strategic Imperfection
Aiming for perfection may be a recipe for failure, especially when we do it in haste. Like a football team, every step in our lives needs rebuilding. There will be times when we will have to invest in ourselves, build skills, work on projects, and make mistakes before we can be perfect. Looking flawless can attract resentment and unnecessary scrutiny. When I first got my job as a lecturer, standing before students, who at that time were almost my age, and some older than me, was a big challenge. Writing on the board was a challenge, as my writing made a diagonal line. They laughed, and I could hear them mocking me. But 14 years later, I do not even need to refer anywhere as I deliver the content. I never aimed for instant perfection but focused on quality content and built my confidence, and the results came. With time, my imperfections reduced, and the mockery diminished. Strategic imperfections make you learn.
4. Master timing
In everything, timing is king. Knowing when to act often matters more than knowing how to act. Whether in business, agriculture, education, or general life processes, those who master timing reap big rewards. When you assess the seasons in business, especially in Kenya, you will realize that different products sell during different times. Towards Christmas, when kids are excited by new fashion, boutiques usually experience big sales. On the other hand, a week after Christmas, back-to-school fever creeps in, and all those dealing with stationery and all that are relevant for school make huge sales. Anyone who does not move with time will be disadvantaged.
Back in the day, there was a postal corporation that dealt with sending mail. It was doing very well until the courier services came into the market. Posta, as it was popularly known, did not adapt to the new way of doing business, and people shifted. For some years, they made losses, and currently, it is a shell of what it used to be. Knowing when to start, when to pause, when to change, and when to quit is crucial in winning.
5. Let results speak.
I love football, and rarely do I miss an Arsenal or AFC Leopards game. One thing that has drained Arsenal and AFC fans over the years is the fact that we use a lot of energy trying to explain to people that Arsenal is a big club. The rival fans respond with photos of their teams celebrating winning trophies, and then we are left speechless. So, even in life, never argue about anything that can be proven by results. Do people question your competence? Do not argue, but rather let your results speak. Take note that action and competence silence arguments faster than words.
6. Know when to stop winning.
This is never easy. I will give an example of a trader or just a gambler. When you enter a trade, and say the market is on an uptrend, and your prediction is going right. You always have your target profit, which is when you hit, you leave the market and wait for the next day. More often than not, when all is going well, we want to continue, which, in most cases, backfires. Remember, pushing too far can turn success into backlash.
7. Avoid total isolation.
Whereas isolation can keep you out of trouble, total isolation makes you vulnerable to addictions and negative thoughts. I have received confessions from people addicted to masturbation, and one thing that resonates with all of them is that they enjoy being alone in the house. Total isolation not only catalyzes bad addictions, but it also restricts you from expanding your networks. A strong connection makes you informed.
8. Use absence wisely.
Capitalyze on your absence. Work on yourself so that when you appear, results will speak. Build your skills, go to the gym, and engage in activities that serve to help humanity. Distance can increase value and respect when used strategically.
9. Focus on what truly matters.
This is one thing that has always affected me. I had so many things on my table, from work-related and education stuff, and personal things to do. But now, every time I tried focusing on one of them, something told me I should work on the other. This causes everything to stagnate because scattered energy leads to shallow progress and delivers no results. There was a time I was to work on my thesis, then the urge to revive my blog hit me. Suddenly, all the energy shifted there, and the thesis was put on hold for a while. The moment I planned my time and focused on each activity at its own time, things started flowing.
10. Think independently, blend socially.
We are in a free-thinking world, and God gave us free will. So keep your mind free, but don’t stand out unnecessarily. When resistance is invisible, influence grows faster.
I hope these points, drawn from my experience, will help you improve various facets of your life. Keep reading my blog, and share it with more people.
.jpeg)
0 Comments