Principles of Power

It all started at the end of last semester. I was sitting in my foundations of business thought class going over passages of Aristotle, or Plato, or other philosophers that are pretty difficult to understand. Reading it just wasn't enough either. We had to interpret based on the passage read what there stance on business would be. Man. I could not wait for the final to be over and to stop thinking about that class. On one occasion, we had a "guest speaker" come in to talk about a class that he was offering the upcoming semester. He introduced himself as Alan Sandomir. The name resonated in my mind, and then it hit me. I looked on the front of my Foundations book, and he was one of the authors. I did not want to take a class from a guy who writes college text books. Their tests are impossible.

He said something very interesting that caught my attention. "No homework, quizzes, or tests will be given during the course. All you have to do is show up." Now this caught my attention. After talking to my brother who had taken the course and enjoyed it, I decided to enroll in the class. I've never been in a class where there the only grade you get is for just showing up. But yet, I find myself taking notes, and even emailing Professor Sandomir if I am not understanding a concept. What class would make any "normal" college student do this?

The name of the class is Power Basics. It was created for then Utah football coach Urban Meyer to teach football players about power and what an effect it has on the school and in their everyday lives. It was such a hit that first year that it was implemented into the business corriculum. It's the only power class taught in the United States. There are 48 laws to power and each class we study one of the laws. One might be; 'saying less than is needed'. Or, 'making your enemies your friends'. Each law is then described by example and why it is effective. I hate hate hate textbooks, but I actually found myself reading this book on my flight to Nashville. Not because I had to read but because it was just so interesting.

Today we talked about something really important. It hit home to me. We were talking about the current global problems that we are having and the question was possed to us; "what will seperate you from all of the other people that are applying for the same job that you are"? I thought. I am not sure. He talked about a principle of power that will stay with me for the rest of my life probably. He said that there are two types of people in the world. There are the squirrls and the hawks or eagles. Hawks and eagles will do anything that they need to for the ability to survive. They have the will to survive. He said that by studying these principles, and applying them in situations that are relevant having the will to succeed nothing could stop us. By understanding power and using it to your advantage, you'll get that job, gain influence, and do whatever it is that your desire wants to do. I thought I'd just tell you a little bit about it because it had an impact on me today. The book is title the The 48 laws of Power writen by Robert Greene. I highly reccomend it to you as you pursue your dreams and desires.