Thursday, August 15, 2013

Expand Into the Power Vacuum


"He had come to two beliefs. One was that in any organization there is always a lot of loose, unused power lying about which can be picked up without alienating anyone. 

The second rule is, if you want power and want to expand, never encroach on anyone else's domain; open up new ones. 

"I call it 'Expanding into the power vacuum'" Demara proudly explains. "It works this way. If you come into a new situation (there's a nice word for it) don't join some other professor's committee and try to make your mark by moving up in that committee. You'll, one, have a long haul and two, make an enemy." 

Demara's technique is to found your own committee. 

"That way there's no competition, no past standards to measure you by. How can anyone tell you aren't running a top outfit? And then there's no past laws or rules or precedents to hold you down or limit you. Make your own rules and interpretations. Nothing like it. Remember it, expand into the power vacuum!"

-Ferdinand Waldo Demara, "The Great Imposter"