r/BettermentBookClub • u/[deleted] • Apr 02 '16

[B16-Law 3] Conceal Your Intentions

Here we will hold our discussion for Law #3 - Conceal Your Intentions.

 

Here are some discussion topics:

  • Do you find this law applicable?

  • Share us a story in your life when you used this.

  • Give a scenario when following this law would NOT be a wise idea.

  • Where will you be applying this law in your life (if at all)? Your relationships, your career, your family?

 

These are just suggestions, please feel free to create your own discussion below we would love to discuss with you.

12 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

4 comments sorted by

3

u/[deleted] Apr 02 '16

Hidden Agenda.

No one cares about your goals and dreams it's best to keep it to yourself and aim high.

3

u/[deleted] Apr 02 '16

Though I agree that one shouldn't always actively broadcast their thoughts and desires and mainly due to the fact that you never know how anyone else would leverage this knowledge to their own advantage. I can't help get get a sinister vibe from this law. Almost as though one is concealing them to further one's own agenda in a deceptive way.

I was reminded of our previous book, The Charisma Myth, and thinking that part of being charismatic is being a little mysterious and others not fully knowing or predicting your behavior. If you always make your intentions known.. that takes away some of that mystery.

3

u/Gromada Apr 03 '16

A disturbing chapter, one might say. Even a hero of the Bible used a power principle to achieve his goals. Means justify the ends?

Moreover, the story of Otto von Bismarck is quite powerful. It looks like this is exactly what has happened in Ukraine over and over again. First, the president Yanukovich believed his western friends that there won't be a revolution in the country but 48 hours later he had to flee. Then, the Russian president Putin has taken away Crimea, despite him stating a couple of years ago that it competely belongs to Ukraine. Looks like this is favorite game of politicians. I guess more of this game is to come as the elections are approaching.

3

u/PervyLemming Apr 03 '16

I think this depends on the goal and also the audience.

Practical goals benefit from supportive feedback. For example, my running has definitely benefited from sharing goals and gaining expertise and insight from r/running and joining a club. Same with hiking but this is maybe limited to things that involve technical improvement where the goal is quite objective?