[music] [music] In public, naivety kills. If you show weakness, they will swallow you. If you speak honestly, you will regret it. You want to survive. Then learn the nine laws that Machiavelli would not forgive you for ignoring. In the world of public relations, work, politics, or even everyday social life, it is not the best who survives , but the smartest. In this video you will discover nine things you should never, ever do in public. Unless you want to ruin your reputation, become a target, or lose your power, without even realizing it. Machiavelli did not write to be liked. He was writing to warn. And this video is not for the naive. It is for those who want to see the world as it really is, a battlefield. You will learn why the truth can burn you, why a show of force can bury you, and why the most dangerous opponents are often the ones who smile the most. If you think public image isn't a power game, then you better watch this video to the end, before someone else sees you and plays you. Machiavelli's first law is never reveal your true intentions. The fastest way to lose ground in the power game is to talk openly about what you want. Machiavelli knew this well. When you reveal your goals, when you show what you really think or what you are pursuing, then it automatically gives others weapons to stop you, betray you, or manipulate you. People are not neutral observers. They are competitors, vested interests, or just curious. And many times those who seem to support you are actually plotting how to get ahead of you. Your intentions must be wrapped in indifference, calmness, or even deception. Learn to show something other than what you are chasing. The smart leader puts on a gentle face with a three-faced, almost innocent expression. But within it lies a plan, a strategy, and a direction. Whoever understands you predicts you and whoever predicts you blocks you. If you tell them you want a promotion, they will pass you by. If you tell them you want power, they will undermine you. If you show them ambition, they will call it arrogance. In the public sphere, it is not the honest who wins, but the enigmatic. The one who keeps others in suspense, the one who speaks little and means even less. Like in chess, you never reveal your next move. So in life, you never reveal your true plan. You're giving smoke to words. You bring fire to your actions. Machiavelli's second law is never complain publicly. Complaining is a form of suicide. When you complain in front of others, you don't attract their sympathy. You attract their contempt. People rarely respect a person who complains because complaining smacks of weakness. Machiavelli knew that in the public arena, anyone who shows that he is in pain also shows that he is ready to be beaten. The public doesn't love the victim, they love the victor even if he is cruel, even if he is ruthless. If you show that you have complaints about life from others or the system, then you lose your most valuable weapon, the image of a person in control. At work, in politics, even in friendships, when you talk about how wronged you have been, rarely will someone offer to help you. Most likely, he will register in his mind that you can't handle the pressure and pass you by. People hear your complaint, but they don't forget it. For good reason, it's a sign that maybe you're not as capable as you seem. The leader doesn't complain even when everything hurts, even when everything goes wrong. The leader smiles and takes his next step silently. If you want to whine, do it in the mirror, not in public. Your silence breeds respect. Your complaint raises doubts. Whoever survives is not the one who screams, but the one who never lets the world know that he is hurting. Machiavelli's third law is never show that you are afraid. Fear is normal, but expressing it publicly is dangerous. When you show that you are afraid, they don't protect you, the wolves approach you. Machiavelli knew that fear in the world of power smells of blood. It's like throwing a red flag at bulls who are already watching you. In business, in politics, in human relations, self-confidence is the currency of influence. When it breaks, others understand it and evaluate you lower. Fear indicates that you have no control, indicates that you may not be suitable to lead, to make decisions, to have someone rely on you. You may be afraid and burn inside, but outwardly you have to show courage. Not excessive, not arrogant, but firm. Your gaze, your tone of voice, your movements, everything should scream one thing. I am present and I will not shrink. Machiavelli would tell you that often power is simply a matter of impression. You don't need to be all-powerful. You need to show that you're not broken. Insecurity is human, but the image of weakness is politically destructive. Whoever is afraid, let him keep it to himself and sleep in silence and the illusion of stability. In the end, the strongest doesn't always win , but the one who showed fear in front of the crowd certainly never wins. Machiavelli's fourth law is never to overshadow your superior. The world doesn't work fairly and people don't always reward excellence. Machiavelli knew that when you stand out too much, when you shine more than those above you, they will not admire you or fear you. And when someone is afraid of you, they move to diminish you. Your superiors, whether they are superiors, more experienced, or more socially acceptable, don't want someone next to them who makes their role seem small. They want allies, not competitors. Appearing competent is good, appearing more competent than those who have power over you is dangerous. Machiavelli would tell you to be necessary, but not threatening. Help your superior climb so you can climb with him. Keep your brightest cards hidden until the time comes to play them without turning them against the one who holds you in a position of influence. In the public sphere, being better is not enough; you must be strategically humble. The intelligent person does not always show all his strength; he hides it behind servility, politeness, and controlled silence. Because he who is not afraid to appear second will have the patience to become first when the time comes. Machiavelli's fifth law is to never show that you are emotionally dependent on the acceptance of others. In the public arena, a person who thirsts to be loved is easily controlled. Machiavelli knew that anyone who depends on the opinions of others loses their power. When you need affirmation to feel valuable, when you measure your every step based on whether you'll be praised, then you're not functioning freely. You act like a slave. People smell this need and either exploit it or reject you as weak. Some will berate you to keep you calm. Others will reject you on purpose to shake you up. If you show them that it affects you, then you are giving them control of your mind. Acceptance is nice, but it should never become a requirement for being strong. The leader, the player, the general does not wait for applause to act. He knows who he is, he knows what he wants, and he operates based on purpose, not sympathy. Machiavelli would tell you to let others approve of you if they want, but not to need it. Show independence. Show inner strength. Show that neither acceptance nor rejection affects you. When people see that they can't control you with applause, they will start to respect you. And respect is much stronger than love. Machiavelli's sixth law is never show that you cannot control your emotions. Public space is not a confession, it is theater. And in the theater, those who burst out without control become ridiculous, not authentic. Machiavelli saw clearly that anyone who lets their emotions overflow. In front of others, he loses the privilege of fear he causes, he loses control of his image and ultimately loses the game. Anger, sadness, jealousy, panic. All of this is human, but it has no place in the arena of power. When you lose your temper, you send the message that you are vulnerable. And when you are vulnerable, your opponents hit you precisely where it hurts. A smart person doesn't show when they are angry and when they are not. He doesn't let the other person know if he was hurt or not. He doesn't allow himself to give that advantage to those around him. The cold is not inhuman. He is strategic. It hides the storm behind silence. Not because he doesn't feel, but because he controls. Machiavelli would tell you, "Keep your tears to yourself. Keep your anger to your decision and keep your face still. Strength is not in not feeling, but in not allowing anyone to see when you feel. He who rules his emotions, rules the field around him and in the end it is not the most intense who wins, but the coolest. Machiavelli's law is never to say more than you have to. Language is a weapon, but also a trap. Machiavelli knew that whoever talks too much shows his cards and whoever shows his cards holds no riddle, no power. In the public sphere, the more you reveal, the weaker you become. People listen and remember especially when you say things you shouldn't. Every unnecessary word can become a bullet that will come back to you. When you speak less, others fill the gaps with respect or fear. When you talk too much are filled with conclusions and judgments. Silence is strength because it creates mystery and prevents attacks. It does not give others points to hit you. The person who speaks little, but essentially seems stable, seems dangerous, seems confident. On the contrary, whoever tries to explain everything, to say what he feels, what he thinks, what he wants, seems like he is asking for permission and approval. Machiavelli tells you, "Speak less, think more and remember that silence never betrays. The less you talk, the less likely you are to make enemies and mistakes." The strong man is not the one who shouts. He is the one who listens and strikes only when necessary. Machiavelli's law is never to show that you are completely predictable. A predictable person is an easy target. When others know what you will say, what you will do and how you will react, then they will manipulate you as they want. Machiavelli knew that the greatest advantage in power is the uncertainty it causes in those around you. When they cannot read you, they cannot stop you. The strategy is based on surprise and ambiguity. Whoever is always predictable is always controlled. People tend to repeat themselves to feel safe, but this is the first step to losing their power. On the contrary, when you vary your attitude, when you are not caught out of nowhere, when you say slightly different things depending on the context, when you do not always respond in the same way, then they begin to they fear you, to count on you, to watch out for you. Keep a dose of unpredictability within you . Not to confuse others, but to force them to give you space. The unpredictable person is not easy to deal with, because there is no recipe to limit him. And when the other person does not know what you are going to do, all he can do is watch out. And that is strength. Machiavelli's ninth law is never to trust the kindness of others. Always be ready to defend yourself. In a world where power and self-interest govern relationships, kindness is often a mask that hides hidden intentions and calculations. Machiavelli does not urge us to become suspicious without reason, but to understand that human nature is not always pure and that trust must be earned with care. Always be on the alert. Observe carefully and do not leave yourself exposed to potential dangers. Naive trust can become your biggest mistake because in the public sphere, as in politics, betrayal and exploitation lurk where you least expect it. To survive and maintain control, you must always be prepared to defend yourself with strategy and composure. Insight, wisdom and foresight are your weapons in this battle. Not only to protect your position, but also to win a game that does not forgive mistakes.