838 years ago a Japanese Shogun identified and wrote about 12 ways to exert influence. He became one of the three greatest statesmen Japan ever produced.
In Chapter 2 he talks about persuasion.
“Persuasion clothes itself in two very different forms. The one invades the soul like the inevitable molecules of a soothing balm poured from a kindly hand. (Virtuous – good.) The other may be compared to a terrible wind of the African deserts. (Evil)”
“Evil persuasion is all the more dangerous because it knows how to clothe itself with the most attractive external attributes…they are those who seek the agreeable sensation of the moment, without giving a thought to the possible bitterness of tomorrow…..they are often compelled to suffer for days and weeks in order to pay for one day of careless pleasure.”
In my notes, I distill his writing now to this –
“Avoid dishonest people. Avoid negative people. Hang out with positive good people.”
He tells a story – another person you want to influence is obviously being ridiculous and unreasonable in their position or belief – instead of arguing with them sternly to influence them – LISTEN – and meet them where they are first. Then go from there.
Other notes I had from this chapter on persuasion –
He tells a story (his stories can be long so I omit most) the lesson of which is – use misfortune to build happiness. Luck is born chiefly of circumstances created by ourselves. Mind over matter.
Wow. I love that. “Luck is born of circumstances created chiefly by ourselves.”
What circumstances have you set up over the years by your habits, behaviors, and actions (which were driven by what you decided to learn and who you decided to be around and where you decided to hang out)?
The harder you work the luckier you get!
Thanks for sharing each chapter Larry. I love the quote, “We create our own luck”.
We should all be so lucky to have a guy like Jack on our team.
Cheers
Luck happens to people when they prepare.
I sometimes find this a tough line to navigate. My circle of good friends is small and tight with years of history. But in order to experience new things, you have to let in new people….and only when you let them in do you find out if they are good, positive people that you want to keep in your life. The catchy part is then needing to distance yourself if you find out they are NOT really good, and positive and your kind of people. I am probably making this harder than it needs to be…haha!!