Welcome to MALICIA AS A GAME OF POWER, a compelling blog series that delves deeply into the intricate strategies for human interactions, with a strong focus on the essential elements of communication, conflict resolution, negotiation, and manipulation. Through comprehensive analysis and engaging examples, it covers various aspects of leadership, as well as the critical importance of online reputation management in today’s digital age. The series provides practical and actionable tips designed to enhance one’s influence and foster meaningful, lasting relationships both in personal and professional contexts. By exploring the psychological underpinnings of human behavior, the series aims to empower readers to effectively navigate the complex landscape of interpersonal dynamics, enabling them to improve their lives, develop more profound connections, and achieve greater success in their endeavors.
In this installment, we will explore the 41st law of power in the book, the 48 laws of power by Robert Greene. You can buy a copy by clicking HERE.
Law 41: Avoid stepping into a great man’s shoes
Originality often holds a unique and powerful allure, frequently leading to the perception that what emerges first is inherently superior, more groundbreaking, and ultimately more valuable than any subsequent iterations or developments. This phenomenon, where the initial concept, discovery, or creation captures a disproportionate share of admiration and credit, suggests a deeply ingrained human tendency to highly value novelty and the thrill of first discovery. This inclination isn’t merely a matter of appreciation for the new; it often translates into a belief that the “pioneer” or “first mover” holds an unassailable advantage, their work intrinsically more authentic and impactful simply because it came before. This cultural emphasis on being first can sometimes overshadow the crucial refinements, expansions, and even revolutionary re-interpretations that often follow, leading to a complex interplay between the veneration of the original and the ongoing evolution of ideas and practices.
The act of following those who have achieved greatness carries with it a profound and multifaceted responsibility, far beyond mere imitation. It implies a mandate not merely to replicate their successes or mimic their methods, but to actively amplify their influence, extend their reach, and build substantially upon their foundational legacy. To truly follow great people means to deeply internalize their core principles, to critically understand the philosophies and values that underpinned their achievements, and to then expand their vision in ways they might not have even conceived. This dedicated pursuit of building upon a legacy ultimately aims to significantly increase, or even double, their impact on the world, ensuring that their contributions continue to resonate and evolve through new generations of thought and action. It requires a blend of reverence for the past and innovative forward-thinking, transforming admiration into active, meaningful advancement.
True power and lasting influence are not merely inherited or passively received as a birthright; rather, they are actively cultivated and meticulously forged through individual brilliance, distinctive contributions, and an unwavering commitment to self-definition. Gaining power and establishing influence by shining brightly in your own unique way—by demonstrating your inherent value and distinct capabilities—underscores the profound wisdom of maintaining equilibrium and fairness in all forms of exchange, whether tangible or intangible. This critical principle ensures that one’s inherent dignity, personal autonomy, and ethical integrity remain inviolable, serving as the bedrock of authentic self-worth. While a specific cultural example might brilliantly illuminate this concept, it points to a universal and timeless truth: authentic power, genuine freedom, and sustained influence are intricately linked to self-sufficiency, a deep understanding of one’s own worth, and the discerning, mindful management of all interactions and exchanges. It is through individual contribution, the development of one’s unique distinctiveness, and the strategic application of personal talents that one truly flourishes, establishes a lasting and meaningful sphere of influence, and ultimately secures a legacy built on personal merit rather than inherited status. This process is a continuous journey of self-discovery and conscious action, ensuring that influence is earned and sustained through genuine individual effort.
How to use the 41st law of power ethically:
The 41st Law of Power, often summarized as “Avoid stepping into a great man’s shoes,” can be interpreted and applied in a constructive, ethical manner. The core principle of the law is to recognize the danger of direct competition or comparison with an established, legendary figure, especially immediately following their departure. To use this law ethically means channeling this awareness not into manipulative avoidance, but into a strategy for legitimate, sustainable success that honors the past while forging a unique future.
Ethical Interpretation and Application:
- Acknowledge and Honor the Predecessor’s Legacy (Without Mimicry):
- Unethical: Ignoring the predecessor’s achievements or actively trying to diminish their contribution to clear the field.
- Ethical: Publicly acknowledging the magnitude of the predecessor’s work and the foundation they built. Frame your role not as a replacement, but as the next chapter. This earns respect from those loyal to the previous leader.
- Define a Distinct and Authentic Vision:
- Unethical: Directly copying the predecessor’s methods, style, or goals, which inevitably leads to unfavorable comparison (“They’re not as good as the last one”).
- Ethical: Clearly articulating a new, compelling vision that addresses different challenges or exploits new opportunities. Focus on areas the “great man” neglected or that simply didn’t exist in their time. This establishes a new yardstick for success, preventing direct, apples-to-apples comparison.
- Cultivate Your Own Support Base:
- Unethical: Co-opting the predecessor’s loyalists by making false promises or eliminating those who seem too devoted to the past.
- Ethical: Identifying and championing a new generation of talent or a different constituency within the organization or field. Build loyalty around your ideas and your methods, ensuring your power base is dependent on your unique success, not merely inherited goodwill.
- Embrace Incremental, Sustainable Change:
- Unethical: Rushing into immediate, radical changes merely to prove you are different, often undoing successful policies.
- Ethical: Making deliberate, well-justified changes that demonstrably improve efficiency, morale, or output. The goal is to build your reputation on measurable results that speak for themselves, not on the sheer force of a different personality.
- Seek New Territory or Niches:
- Unethical: Directly invading the predecessor’s primary domain of expertise or influence and attempting to dominate it instantly.
- Ethical: Expanding the organization’s or your professional scope into new markets, technologies, or disciplines. This creates a domain where you are the pioneer and the “great man,” allowing you to achieve success without constantly being shadowed by the previous giant.
By applying the 41st Law ethically, the focus shifts from avoiding failure by comparison to ensuring success by differentiation. It respects the legacy of the past while ensuring the future is built upon a genuinely new and robust foundation.
The 41st Law of Power: A Capoeirista’s Perspective on Avoiding Imitation
The pursuit of influence and lasting impact, as codified in the renowned work The 48 Laws of Power, finds a unique and profound resonance when filtered through the lens of an angoleiro—a practitioner of Capoeira Angola. Specifically, The 41st Law: Avoid Stepping into a Great Man’s Shoes—What Happens First Is Always Looked Better and More Original, is not merely a caution against succession, but a fundamental principle of self-mastery and creative expression within the Afro-Brazilian art form.
For the angoleiro, the roda (the circle in which capoeira is played) is a stage for genuine self-expression, not mere mimicry. An angoleiro who attempts to strictly emulate the style, movements, or persona of a renowned mestre (master) will inevitably be judged by an unforgiving standard—the standard set by the original. The energy, the narrative, and the historical context of the mestre‘s game are inimitable.
The Context of the Law in Capoeira Angola:
- The Burden of the Legacy: When an angoleiro attempts to assume the “shoes” of a legendary figure—a mestre whose game defined an era or a region—they inherit not just the prestige, but the impossible burden of comparison. The audience, the roda, and the art itself demand originality. The successor is seen as a derivative, a pale reflection, rather than a new source of light.
- The Imperative of Malandragem (Cleverness/Street Smarts): Capoeira Angola thrives on mandinga (the elusive, deceptive element of the game) and malandragem. These qualities are inherently personal and cannot be successfully copied. The Law urges the angoleiro to develop their own unique jogo (game)—their own rhythm, their own timing, their own repertoire of deceptive movements. To find one’s own power is to innovate, not to reiterate.
- Establishing a New Foundation: The path to becoming a respected mestre is not paved by perfect imitation, but by the courageous act of deviation. The angoleiro must recognize the greatness of the predecessor, absorb the foundational wisdom (fundamentos), and then consciously move beyond the shadow. True succession involves taking the torch and running a new, distinct path, thereby establishing a new criterion for excellence. The angoleiro must create their own history, their own signature move, their own song (ladainha), ensuring that the comparison is not a simple measure of likeness, but a recognition of a new original power.
In essence, The 41st Law, for the angoleiro, is a mandate for creative authenticity. It is a warning that to live in the shadow of a master is to forfeit one’s own potential for mastery. The only way to truly honor the past is to forge a unique future.
Jogo Corpo Fechado 