Notes on Power.

Power is fleeting. 

No man can be a hero to his valet. A prophet is not appreciated in his hometown. These are truths that have been with us from the beginning and if there is an end, it will remain so. 

Moral of the story, that CEO or celebrity that enjoys so much power in some circles, is just a regular mortal in other places. 

Power is fleeting indeed. One minute, you are the cynosure of all eyes and everyone wants to shake your hands. But fortunes will change soon, and your phone will stop ringing. You will keep asking your PA whether you have not received any calls, and they will say no. Meanwhile, you used to hide from phone calls before. 

Gaining or Keeping Power 

You see, we also have evidence that the best use of power is to help people, as many as possible. Human groups naturally hand power to the person that they feel will fulfil their interests. That is another truth. They won't give power to who speaks the best English, and if they do, they most likely won't do it again. 

We also have evidence that powerful people who feel powerless are one of, if not the the most dangerous human beings. Power can destroy if you are not careful. 

When you wish for power or prominence, study this thing you wish for. 

Can you serve the people? Can you serve the groups that installed you into power? 

The irony here is that seemingly bad leaders or controlling leaders will always keep what Bruno De Mesquita calls the "Essentials". These are people who form the core of a society's elite and control power at lower levels. 

Every leader or king has these people. The king or leader ensures he doesn't fall out of favour with them. This is how Tinubu has kept Lagos all these years.

People reward you with power if you meet their needs and interests. If you want power, you have to serve some critical people, if not all the people.

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