This step contradicts the “constant pressure” myth. Power is conserved most of the time, then unleashed suddenly. In corporate politics, this means waiting for a crisis, then presenting a pre-prepared solution. In personal strategy, it means choosing one goal and saying no to all others.
John D. Rockefeller didn’t just refine oil; he owned the railroads, barrels, and pipelines. When competitors needed transport, they came to him. In knowledge work, hoard not information but interpretive frameworks —the ability to make sense of chaos. Become the only person who can translate between engineering and sales, or between data and strategy. 7 steps to power pdf
Dependence can breed resentment. Soften it with apparent humility: “I’m happy to help—it’s just that no one else knows the legacy system.” This step contradicts the “constant pressure” myth
Social psychology’s reciprocity principle is relentless. A small, unexpected favor creates a psychological debt that the other party must repay. Benjamin Franklin famously borrowed a rare book from a rival, then returned it with thanks—the rival became a lifelong ally. Franklin’s insight: “He that has once done you a kindness will be more ready to do you another than he whom you yourself have obliged.” In personal strategy, it means choosing one goal
Socrates never claimed wisdom; he asked questions that revealed others’ ignorance. That positional humility became a form of power—people feared his dialectic, not his office.