Dear reader,
As honest men of good faith, we take it at face value that other men also act on good faith.
We give out a simple courtesy of trust and belief that other men will stand by their word. After all, we would stand by our word so everyone else must too. Right? Not quite.
Fairness, honesty, and integrity are all fine traits for men to possess, if only all men possessed these traits.
The honest and fair man makes a critical error in thinking and lives under a childlike spell, as if by voodoo magic, that every man is good, honest and fair. The honest man believes that any man who does not operate under the same code as the honest man is a cheater.
This childlike spell causes the honest man to be more concerned with fairness over results, but fairness isn't worth a hill of beans if results do not follow.
As the failures continue to grow, the honest man will come to believe that all success is the result of cheating and results are only allowed to cheaters. Eventually he will believe that failure is what it takes to be an honest man and he will unconsciously self-sabotage his efforts in an attempt to remain fair.
To the honest man, only a cheater gets ahead and in an effort to not appear to be cheating, he well and truly avoids success. The honest man is stuck in a never-ending cycle of failure. His belief causes his failure which again reinforces his belief.
How To Conquer The Fear Of Cheating
And Start Winning At The Game Of Life
Ladies and gentlemen we told you the honest man was under a voodoo spell, we did not tell you the honest man cast his own spell. The honest man thinks to himself “Success comes only to the cheaters, never to the honest and fair such as myself. Therefore, I cannot try so very hard to produce success because that wouldn't be fair.”
The honest man's thoughts become his reality and he is paralyzed into inaction over the fear of being labeled a cheater. The honest man has essentially blackmailed himself into a cycle of failure, paralyzed himself into inaction, and built in himself a terrible hatred of success and of the successful.
Dear reader, this is not an indictment of the honest man, rather it is an attempt to cure him of self-sabotage. We look deeply into the soul of the honest man not to mock him, as many in business will do, but to understand how to break the spell that keeps the honest man poor.
This article aims to give the honest man the one quick mindset switch that will allow him to break out of the “fairness cycle” and into the winner's circle.
As you continue reading you will find that the honest man makes critical 3 errors in judgement keep him from success. These 3 errors in judgement build his foundation of failure.
You will be very glad to know that one simple mindset switch can negate a lifetime of errors in thinking.
#1) The “Honesty Excuse”
The biggest error in thinking that honest men make is thinking that all men are honest. These men feel disappointed when other men are proved dishonest. This could have been totally avoided if honest men simply understood this one fundamental rule of human nature:
Not everyone thinks the exact same way. Not everyone shares the same morals, belief and codes of conduct. The world is as it is, not as we wish it to be.
The error the honest man makes is in thinking that all men share the same virtues equally and with vigor. Not everyone thinks honesty is a virtue. Many groups of men laugh at the gullibility of men who believe in honesty.
People will be honest when it benefits them. But never forget — men will also be dishonest when it benefits them. Relying on honesty is a fool's errand and expecting honesty from every person is childish.
Not everyone is honest and not everyone even cares to be called honest. Honesty is a virtue in a select few but not in everyone. Believing honesty is a virtue in everyone leads honest men to be taken advantage of by people who do not share the same honesty beliefs.
Earnest belief in honesty and virtue of all peoples requires a total blindness to the reality of the world. In fact, belief in the virtue of other men is self-sabotage and you'll soon see how otherwise honest men use the “honesty excuse” to accept failure.
The “Honesty Excuse” allows a man to fail while not taking responsibility for his failure because it allows him to say “It isn't my fault I didn't succeed, it is their fault for being dishonest with me”.
The honest man uses the honesty excuse as a reason to fail. If a man wished to succeed, he would simply do away with the notion of honesty in business and get rid of the honesty excuse for good. He would accept people as people rather than as angels and he would do business accordingly.
Another terrific error in thinking is the belief that being earnest, honest and forthright is how a man becomes a success in the first place and that “cheating” only gets you success faster. You'll soon see why both of those assertions are wrong.
#2) Doing the “right thing” when it's the wrong way to achieve success
The 2nd fundamental error the honest man makes is his steadfast belief that his way is the right way, in spite of overwhelming evidence that it is not, and that all men must follow the same set of rules to achieve the riches and results that every man truly desires.
Many an honest man has the conflicting belief that if he just does everything “the right way” he will become successful.. even though he only seen the opposite bear true. Many honest men have found themselves saying “I'm doing everything the right way, but I'm not getting any results.”
The man of good faith believes the key to riches is by being honest, earnest and playing by the rules, in spite of the evidence to the contrary. The honest man's error is not in doing things “the right way”, his error is in continuing to do things in the so-called right way even when it's not working.
The honest man has so thoroughly convinced himself that honesty and fairness is the best policy that it may take him years to realize that success does not come from playing by the rules. When he realizes the truth he will make a tactical error by continuing to work in the same manner he has always worked; By playing by the rules and getting nowhere, in spite of knowing that it does not work.
Even after faced with the truth, the honest man is still blinded my his own perceived honesty and morality, which leaves him paralyzed to action. He is so grounded in the thought of doing things the “right away” that he continues to do them against his own best interest.
The honest man, again, is making a critical error in thinking and with one simple mindset shift he would be able to let go of his misfortune, increase his knowledge and learn to enjoy real success. With help from Victor Pride, the “honest man” can turn himself from a can't-do man to a can-do man.
A can't-do man will play by the rules seemingly forever, he will assume every other man is also playing by the rules, and he will call all men who do not play by the rules “cheaters”. Eventually he will come to believe that the game is rigged, success is only for “cheaters” and that “the honest man” has no chance of success and no way to opportunity.
A can-do man will play by the rules only long enough to realise that the game is rigged and playing by the rules brings only failures. A can-do man will open his eyes to certain realities of the world and he will play to those realities and no longer play to childish dreams of fairness.
Both the can-do man and the can't-do man will reach the same conclusion: The game is rigged, success is only for cheaters and that “the honest man” has no chance of success and no way to opportunity.
The difference is that the can-do man will do away with the rules and he will find success. The can't-do man will continue abiding by the rules and continually repel success. He will focus his energy less on business and more on the “cheaters” whom he feels stole success from him, the man who is doing everything “the right way”.
#3) Equating all success with “cheating”
The 3rd big blunder the honest man makes is in equating all success with cheating. When all success is the result of cheating, the honest man develops a bad taste for success. If the honest man were to accidentally stumble into success, he would find a way to sabotage it and get out — because he doesn't like the feeling of being a cheater.
In spite of the evidence suggesting that the game is rigged and that the only way to succeed is by breaking the rules, the honest man is stuck in a “fairness cycle”. To an honest man, and to a child, success is not fair. To live a fair life, the honest man develops an unconscious fear of success; because he has linked success to cheating.
When the honest man equates success with cheating he builds artificial walls around his ability to accomplish. These walls act as self-sabotage to keep the honest man from success. This gives the honest man yet another excuse to not find success. If an honest man is bound by his moral duty then surely failure isn't his fault, after all he was simply doing the right thing and those other people only found success by breaking the rules and cheating.
The honest man's sees other people who succeed and calls them cheaters, at the same time celebrating the morality that “does not allow him to cheat”. The honest man does not get very far in life, but at least he kept his moral integrity, right? Not quite.
The honest man uses “moral integrity” as a way to not strive for success and he uses the honesty excuse to make excuses as to why he has not succeeded. As you will soon see, the honest man made a terrible mistake and wasted a good deal of life as a self-saboteur. It was never truly morality that kept the honest man from succeeding, it was his self-sabotage that kept him from succeeding.
The biggest error that the honest man makes is in believing that everyone has agreed to the same set of rules he has agreed to. But they haven't. The honest man has paralyzed himself with the honesty excuse and he can't break free simply because he doesn't try to; instead he pours his frustration and anger onto the cheaters who cheated their way to success.
Dear reader, please let it be know that outward anger at “cheaters” is really inner anger at self-sabotage. When good and honest men realize that the fear of cheating is actually a fear of success, they will then be ready to move on to the #1 mindset switch that makes the fear of cheating a distant memory and success a reality.
This One Simple Mindset Switch
Will Change Your Ideas About Cheating
Results and success come from one thing and one thing only. You'll soon see what that one thing is. But first, let's look at what cheating really is. What is cheating? Cheating is agreeing to a set of rules and then breaking those rules.
The honest man has the rules firmly implanted in his head, but there is one problem that keeps the honest man poor and impotent…
Not everyone plans by the same rules. Not everyone even knows what the same rules are, nor does every man care. Even if a man knows what the rules are, he may not have agreed to them quite so vigorously; if he even agreed at all. After all, there are no rules for life, only laws. A man must make his own way and to find success there is no time to shackle oneself to a set of rules that limit his success ability.
The honest man has shackled himself to the rules which prevent his success. The honest man must make this one mindset shift if he ever wishes to break free of those chains and live life the way God intended; rich, free and happy.
The honest man must let this following sentence burn into his brain, he must allow this paradigm shift to penetrate his psyche if he ever wishes to find success, contentment and fulfilment.
In The Game Of Life
There Is No Such Thing As Cheating
What is the one mindset shift that will allow a man to stop worrying about cheating and start winning? The honest but unsuccessful man must realise that there is no such thing as cheating in the game of life. There are simply ways that get results and there are ways that don't get results. There are methods that work and methods that do not work.
The honest but unsuccessful man has spent so long believing in methods that don't work it may be hard to achieve the paradigm shift, but he must if he wishes fortune.
When a man says “I've been doing everything the right way and I've not seen any results” he must come to the honest conclusion that he was not doing things the right way. If it were the right way, his endeavours would have been successful. Instead, he was doing everything the wrong way and blaming cheating.
If a man wants a result and he gets the result, how could that possibly be cheating? It cannot be. If a man wants a result and he does not get the result, how could that method possibly be the right method? It cannot be. As you will see, dear reader, cheating is simply the word used to describe methods that actually work.
Cheating Is The Word Use To Describe
Methods That Actually Work
Cheating is the word used to describe methods that get results. An honest but unsuccessful man must make the paradigm shift from believing success equals cheating to realizing that cheating is actually the only way that works to achieve results.
Now that you know the mindset shift required to think like a winner, you are ready to know the #1 thing that every single person can do to stop worrying about cheating and start winning right now.
The Real #1 Rule Of Success
That Anyone Can Follow
Successful men do not follow the rules laid out by unsuccessful men. But successful men do follow guidelines. You can look at the most successful men in any field and it's a guarantee that they will all follow this #1 rule for success.
If results are what you're after, you must do what it takes to achieve those results and that is in fact the #1 rule of success that all high-achievers follow: DO WHAT IT TAKES TO GET THE RESULTS YOU'RE AFTER.
Yes, unsuccessful men will label it cheating and you a cheater But remember, there's a reason they are unsuccessful. When a success self-saboteur calls your methods cheating, you know you are on the right path.
Instead of worrying if others will react negatively, you must imagine how you will feel in 1 years, 2 years and 5 years time. Was the immediate reaction of negativity enough to stop you building your future? Of course not.
Successful Men Do What It Takes To Succeed
Not What They Think It Takes To Remain Fair
Winners do what it takes to win. It isn't a matter of cheating and it isn't a matter of morals — it's a matter of being #1 and getting real results. Instead of thinking “is this good or bad” one must think “will this get me my desired results?”
A man who does not achieve results is a failure. But thanks to this helpful guide, the man who was once a failure can raise himself from failure to success by following these 3 simple principles, 1 mindset shift and 1 iron-clad rule:
The 3 principles each can-do man must follow:
- Treat the world as it is, not as you wish it to be. Our reality is just that — reality only for us. In our reality we may despise “cheaters” but cheaters don't live in our reality, they live in theirs. In their reality they do what it takes to win.
- Do away with the “honesty excuse” - you either succeeded or you didn't. Eliminate the excuses to focus on success rather than focusing on failure.
- Instead of doing the “right thing” do the thing that works. There are methods that work and methods that do not work. Often the methods that actually work are thought of as “cheating” and methods that don't work are thought of as “the right way”.
The 1 mindset shift each would-be successful man must make:
- There is no such thing as cheating in the game of life. The right way gets results, the wrong way doesn't get results. There is no such thing as cheating - there are results and there are failures.
The real #1 rule of success that each and every can-do man follows:
- The #1 rule of success is “Do what it takes.” If you wish to be a winner and not a loser you must do what it takes to win.
Dear reader, you may freely take these principles of success and use them to achieve results in your own business endeavours. When an honest man calls you a cheater you may rejoice in the fact that you are getting results.
If you wish no harm to the honest man, if you wish to enlighten him instead, you may point him directly to this article so that he too may learn how to stop worrying about cheating and start winning, just like you.
Until next time.
Your man,
-Victor Pride
If we never did anything we shouldn’t do, we’d never feel good about doing the things we should. -Frank Underwood
I’m with you Victor. Fabulous post. Do what it takes to be a winner, to be successful. Is there any other way? Keep ’em coming! Cheers. David G
Thanks David.
Cheating got me a lot of things for free, looking back, I never regretted every time I cheated. Even at games. Life is too short not to cheat / act when the opportunity presents itself.
The morals in your head are just noise, act on your gut feeling guys!
Victor this article speaks to me because I have finally accepted the world for what it is. Over the past few months since I quit my job everyday I have had realization after realization. The world really is what it is. By accepting that and just focusing on getting results, you free yourself from the losers in life.
Also, the “right way” is working for someone else for 40-50 years. Oh and you have to choose a woman that tries to take on both roles. Hmmm not for me. I’d rather put up with feeling lonely while I build my life. In a years time I will be on the beaches of the Philippines or wherever I desire enjoying life my way.
I will allow other people to continue following the “right way” while I follow my way.
I’ve always been an honest guy, but that has also only got me disappointment. As you said you must do whatever it takes. You must be ruthless and focused. Nobody is going to save you no matter what. Even if you find a mentor, you have to earn their time. While they can show you what has worked for them you still have to figure things out for yourself.
Regards,
Dylan Madden
You could probably even say it’s immoral to teach people fairness and morally good behavior, because you are teaching them to be taken advantage of.
Very true Florian.
like you i have always been honest, today i suffer because of that. but i don t want to give it up completely, am i an idiot for thinking that way? Were you an idiot? Not everybody cant be f*cked some of us need to stay true. Morality has it s place we just have to find it, and for the rest do what it takes.
Morality made you find this blog.
You can still be a moral person and get things done. Just realize that nobody is 100% there for you and keep your eyes on the prize (Mission). I wouldn’t say that you are an idiot, because we are all figuring things out. Decide what you want and then eliminate whatever gets in your way.
For me it required me not talking to family and losing girls that loved me. Most people my age would rather be out chasing girls and partying. That doesn’t make me better than them. I just have different priorities. I’d rather build my business and be cruising in life by my mid 20’s while they are busting their butt for someone else.
So find what you want and then go after it no matter what.
Regards,
Dylan Madden
Amazing blog you have here man, I have known it for a long time but didn t subscribe.
I can t believe all that information is free, enjoy the journey and thank you for the dropship ebook I really needed it.
Thank you for your compliment Tiger. I’m glad you like the eBook thanks for subscribing.
Glad to have got to this point. B&D has been a big help, but my message is slowly taking off.
Let me know if you need any help brother.
“Man just wants to be happy but society wants him to be good. When he’s good, man is rarely happy, and when he’s happy he’s always good.”
-Dorian Gray
great quote! cheers!
This limited mindset affects a lot of men. You can easily see by their typical reaction in certain scenarios which I will give out (few that I can think of below).
[Steroids]
Mr. Realistic Man: Hey do you wanna try out some steroids?
Mr. “Honest” Man: Oh no, hell no. I would NEVER do that.
(The above line was actually one of my friend’s reply when I asked him about steroids)
Mr. Realistic Man: Have you actually used them before? I’m sure you take supplements right? Why you take supplements? Think about it like this. Steroid is just another resource that helps you build your body. There are all different kinds of steroids. Some helps you recover and some helps you build bigger muscles but you also need to workout and try to stay healthy at the same time. It’s not the whole magic cure and you need to work out, in addition to that, of course, but it aids you and helps you achieve results faster.
Mr. “Honest” Man: Still man, that is kind of like cheating. (This part I made it up).
-You can expect conversations to go somewhere like this. —
Mr. Realistic Man: Cheating? Are you competing against someone? Why does that matter? I mean you are trying to improve your own body. There is nothing “cheating” about a Man who wants to use resources to help his own body.
[Money]
Mr. Realistic Man: Hey do you want to join me in Marketing business startup?
Mr. “Righteous” Man: Marketing? You mean like making ads, sales letter and stuff?
Mr. Realistic Man: Yeah.
Mr. “Righteous” Man: Oh no, that is immoral. Making ads? Are you snake oil salesman? It doesn’t sound right.
Mr. Realistic Man: But I done it before and I was able to generate good side income. I will show you how to do it.
Mr. “Righteous” Man: Um… it doesn’t sound honest way of making money.
[General]
Mr. Realistic Man: Hey if anyone with nametag “Bob” knocks on your door trying to sell you some 5w-20 engine oil, do Not buy because I just got scammed by that person yesterday, the “5w-20” he was trying to sell me was actually a cooking oil.
Mr. “Naive” Man: No way, why would anyone do that? That’s so horrible. People don’t do that kind of stuff.
Mr. Realistic Man: Yeah but I got scammed yesterday. This isn’t what I heard. This was what I actually experienced so that’s why I”m telling you. Plus I worked in a restaurant before and I also worked as a mechanic so I know the difference between cooking oil and car engine oil.
Mr. “Naive” Man: People are good, you are just being negative. Stop thinking so negatively like that. People are good.
Mr. Realistic Man: LOL
—- In addition to this.
I a lot of people are so fixated on “morals” these days and I understand that because of the nature of society we live in but if you think about it, it’s all about resources. I mean why do people want to make money? Obvious answer. A lot of it isn’t supposed to complicated but yet a lot of people put many restrictions in their Head.
If you don’t grab the opportunity because you are worried about “cheating” then someone else will grab that opportunity and get ahead. That’s just the way it is. All you will do then is whine and complain more about “people’s lack of ethics”.
If you REALLY want something, you will do WHATEVER it takes to get what you want. And there are No excuses for anyone to fail at life especially if they live in the good ‘ole USA and assuming you are not locked up. A lot of it is just in people’s head and their unnecessary worries, fears, and lack of faith.
Majority of people will get this only when they hit the rock bottom and their stomach starts to growl. Then the concept of “cheating” won’t even enter their mind because their natural human survival instinct will kick in and it will make them do whatever it takes to survive, make money, and use whatever strategy to stay alive. Until then, when people start blabbering about “ethics and morals” and saying stuff like “I will NEVER do that for money” and just accept their mediocre lifestyle, they will be in rude awakening when shit really hits the fan and they get hit the hardest.
It really is a Mindset change. Really is.
Great comments TS, yet again.
This is too true.being a good little kid will only get you bullied.
Excellent advise for the shallow man concerned only with bread and circuses and sex. Watch “Citizen Kane”. All the trappings cheating provides are eventually auctioned off or most likely incinerated. As Kane lay dying he was the most wealthy man in the world. But all he wanted was “Rosebud”. Cheating one’s way to the top of a meaningless pyramid is, by definition, meaningless. Cheating his way through life will not allow a man to find his own “Rosebud”. Personally, I prefer “Rosebud”. I will be accused of a loser mentality. But at the end, when trappings have proven meaningless and the joys of the flesh are but a distant distasteful memory, I and my “Rosebud” will be at peace. Will the cheaters? Maybe, maybe not. But I seriously doubt they will be. Each man is entitled to his own goals and aspirations. He should be careful in what he seeks. He will most likely find it. Cheers.
The “honest man” says “I would NEVER do that for money, I have my pride” right before he punches the time clock at his hourly 9-5 job.
Very true. That used to be me. Now I do whatever is required for me to maintain my freedom.
Dylan, you are correct, sir. It is all about freedom. But there is more than one freedom. Financial freedom is high on the list. But so is mental, emotional, and spiritual freedom. Neglecting any of them is the sure way to slavery of some sort. Cheers.
That’s actually good john smith. I’m proud of your mentality.
We need more people like you with no ambition so that the people with high ambition can hire folks like you to sacrifice your time for the rich man’s company.
Oh and thanks for paying your mortgages on time.
TS: What in my post indicates to you that I have no ambition? What makes you think I have a job? What makes you think I am not self employed? What makes you think that I need to work at all? What makes you think I have a mortgage?
The post is all about encouraging a man to think deep and hard about what is truely meaningful to him. As I wrote, each man is entitled to his own goals and aspirations. Your reply is indicative of the same mindset you are attacking. You reflexively assume things, just as you accuse the “honest” man of doing.
You don’t need to explain anything to me john. If you already made it with life, then my post shouldn’t affect you at all.
The tonality of my reply above should have been obvious that it’s my semi-snarky sense of [i]attempted[/i] humor with perhaps limited choice and style of my expression.
“Your reply is indicative of the same mindset you are attacking.”
^ I will ponder on this.
Also you said “Cheating one’s way to the top of a meaningless pyramid is, by definition, meaningless.”
Well in a world we live in, sometimes that’s what you got to do. Some people “cheat” all the time. I call it opportunity. I’m not going to try to rationalize the choices. It’s all there and you either take the chance or you don’t.
I just feel that people focus so much on the concept of “cheating” that it limits their potentials. That’s why I have been so energetic with posting this because I believe quite the opposite and believe that people should take chance and opportunity no matter what if it is out there.
this is a great article Victor and as always you break it down so clearly!
I often wondered why those who cheat usually are the ones who win every time. I used to hate cheaters until I started working in a Sales position many years ago. During those years I have learned many things and the one thing i learned is that people will cheat. They will cheat whenever they can or when it benefits them.
I remember working with a guy who was a stellar salesman! He was an animal in selling everything he got a hold of. At times he even took other people’s sales and made it his own. He was always on the top of the sales list of who sold the most.
I watched him and decided that I need to do what he did. I put away my hate for cheaters and started doing the same thing he did. I stopped following the rules and instead noticed that cheating was not as bad as I thought it was told it was. But a faster way to move up the chain!
I went from 10th on the sales list to number 2 in a matter of months. i recruited the cashiers to hook me up with sales from customers who were not written up with a ticket. The girls all have me sales which worked to get me up the list. But I could never beat that dude who was always number one! Until one day I just happened to see him snorting some Coke while at work. It made sense because the guy would be running around like a Madman.
Sometimes you have to cheat when the situation merits it as sometimes you don’t. It’s a balance I guess that we need to learn how to do!
Great copy Victor!
Thank you Jose.
So many of your paragraphs are filled with quote worthy material.
Keep enlightening us brother
Thank you my friend and will do.
Almost a life changing post
Victor, I know the main inspiration for such a brilliant article is your own success, but just wanted to ask if you’ve read Nietzsche and has he had any positive influence on you?
I read a book of his and man this is all he talked about - that there’s no right or wrong and that it’s all subjective. He even goes as far as saying that the emotion of guilt is what keeps a man from being truly happy.
Cheers.
I have never read or studied Nietzsche. My knowledge of his philosophies is 2nd hand, mostly from B&D commenters.
If you have an opportunity to make hundreds of millions or Donald Trump money, but destroy a couple thousand lives in the process, would you take it? It thats what it took to win?
I think many people here are misinterpreting what “cheating”really means? I don’t think Victor is telling you to go out and be a fraud.
I think cheating here refers to giving yourself the option to be selfish when required and not think in terms of morality. Whats good for one person can easily bad for another and the other way round.
They are misunderstanding - cheating means do what it takes to get the RESULTS YOU WANT it doesn’t mean lie, steal and kill.
Glad you clarify this point Vic!
Thank you. This is what my comment is about.
You’re completely missing the point. It’s not about COMMITTING CRIME it’s about getting the results. Would I commit a heinous CRIME for results NO!
Sometimes its hard to draw the line on these things because there are plenty of things that are legal but still “evil”. When a Goldman Saccs exec ruins 100 elderly people’s retitement investments, leaving them penniless, and gets bad press, what does he always say? “We didnt do anything illegal” And hes absolutely right. He followed the law to the letter and fucked over plenty of people in the process.
Now, you can argue that those old people were idiots for not having control of their wealth, but thats besides the point.
Basically, are you saying its okay to legally fuck gullible people over (not talking about murder or anything), if you can make a killing off it/
“Basically, are you saying its okay to legally fuck gullible people over (not talking about murder or anything), if you can make a killing off it/”
No guy. Actually read the article. Very clear that the message is -> No longer be the gullible guy that gets fucked over.
Joel,
If someone makes hundred millions, it probably means that person (most likely) added a value and was a producer. How else would that person make hundred millions? By scamming? By inheritance money? By Lottery? Perhaps but it’s slim.
If you add value to the life of the masses and you are a producer that means someone times 10000000 (masses) will most likely buy from you, the consumers. Therefore you can make that much money. Have reason for other people to give you money. Where do you think that hundred millions could come from?
From people. If you are not swindling people and you came from average background, then that money most likely is a value producing business income generating money.
How could you destroy someone’s life like that? unless you think about war in other countries as profiteering business.
If you are talking about politicians, it could be different story but for many of us folks, that money is more likely because someone added a value to the masses.
Look at facebook. A lot of people could be talking trash about the creator of facebook but you can’t deny that millions and millions are using it. He is rich now.
In real life though, some people will Win and some people will Lose. That’s just the reality. Accept it. Same goes for business.
If you are thinking about kidnapping humans and extracting their livers and kidneys for black market sales, THEN your post can apply. BUT majority of us AREN”T doing that.
So what’s wrong with taking opportunity?
The issue isnt about seizing opportunity. Its about what standard are you using to draw the line?
If the standard is “anything goes as long as its legal”, theres still room for plenty of fuckery that doesnt involve risking jail time.
“Its about what standard are you using to draw the line?”
^ It’s up to the individual where he draws the line. The article isn’t promoting anything illegal so don’t try to over-analyze it.
There are usually results or no results, reactions and consequences for every action a Man makes.
Like for example, someone could probably make a lot of money by scamming people online but when people find out and eventually they will, the scammer will not go for that long and he will have to hustle and keep doing the same thing over and over again on different niches. The consequence is that he will be known as a scumbag and his online business venture will not survive in long term. He will also be wasting time because he has not added value to anyone’s life. But he did indeed make a lot of money in short time though through gullible and desperate people.
I mean there are grey areas in money making topics and a Man has to do what he gotta do to feed his family, and maintain roof over his head and I’m not going to point fingers or judge but that’s what it is. The reality is that some people will screw others and some people will make money by bringing value.
As long as you are not the one being screwed. As long as you are not the one screwing other people then you shouldn’t worry. Just grab the opportunity when you see it and seize it before others do.
Let’s say (for example) and this is just example scenario. Let’s say you are a college student and just graduated and you are desperately looking for a job and you landed a job with good resume and successful interview. Are you going to feel that you cheated? Are you going to feel sorry because you took the job and the other (thousands of guys) couldn’t take the job because you accepted it and only one person could fulfill it and that was you.? Are you going to feel like you screwed others out? No, right?
How about this. Maybe better example. Let’s say you are so poor and the only way you can make money was buying some commercial property, setting up the store (convenience store for example) and you bought it, people came in and bought your goods and now you are millionaire and you can feed your family for the rest of your life. Are you going to feel like you cheated because you took the opportunity to buy commercial property and others couldn’t because you already took it?
On things like right or wrong…
I mean you can’t be everyone’s hero. You can inform others of certain individual’s wrongdoing but if you are not screwing other people’s lives then don’t worry.
I think you also missed the point of this article. Nothing illegal here is being promoted so don’t worry. It’s really about resources and opportunity.
I will add this.
You know people are capable of committing cannibalism if they want to live so badly but are starving for weeks. Now where do you draw the line you say?
When people’s primary survival instinct is being threatened, there is no such thing as “where to draw the line”.
There are two sides to this. For one you win, the others you may lose. A man might try to convince himself that he is moral but with that mindset, he can lose MANY opportunity. There are no right or wrong really. Just what a Man gives and takes and how his choices affect others.
Think about Religion and Science. Religious morals might stop a Man from doing surgery on a Woman who is going through diverticulitis and it is offensive in his religion for him to look at a naked woman or even touch a woman (even bare parts) but he is the only Man who can do this type of surgery. Instead of doing the surgery, he clings onto his religious dogma and refuses to do the surgery because it would offend his deity. The woman dies because of his religious “morals”.
The need for humans to lecture others on morals is kind of contradictory because humans tend to be flawed and hypocritical. Humans are suited for survival and will do things that will be best beneficial for them and their chance of survival.
Would I fuck over a few thousand people to make Donald Trump money? … I’d probably have to. It would most likely stem from a fantastic product that put those people out of work and or business.
Story from Marine Corps bootcamp…
We were gathered at a the pit and the instructors were demonstrating different hand to hand techniques. A young recruit from one of the sister companies raised his hand and asked “Sir, is it permissible to grab the man by the balls?”
The instructor told the recruit to come forward. He grabbed him by his nuts, lifted him off the ground and then dropped him. He did it two more times. He looked at the rest of us and said “Any other questions?”
A Drill Instructor later put into words what the Hand to Hand instructor demonstrated. He said:
“If you ain’t cheatin’, you ain’t tryin’ hard enough”
Great story C!
Thanks for the article! Great points.
People who complain about cheating don’t see that the official “rules” are just one set out of many. If a class of completely dishonest people rules the world (which is, as every honest man knows, not possible), THEIR crooked rules dominate and honest men will follow THEM.
The only rules worth following (beyond the laws that guarantee basic functions of civilization) are those that increase your strength and that of your friends. Following official rules somebody you are not even connected to put up is a fool’s errand.
Great comment Florian. When you follow the rules, you follow the rules that “cheaters” made for you.
How about in competition? Let’s take drug tested power lifting for example. Anyone who is awake should realize that even the strictest federations are completely infiltrated with drug users. They beat the drug tests every time. Does that really make them winners or does that in fact make them actual cheaters?
Then you should abide by the rules and never win a competition but at least you were honest unlike the cheaters who won every meet and at least know you did everything the right way even though all you ever did was lose.
I have a gold medal and a fourth place medal for the US national team and I haven’t cheated for the record. So cheating even when the rules are clear is still the way to overcome all odds?
Chris, You’ve missed the point entirely. This is the formula to win: STOP WORRYING ABOUT CHEATING & START THINKING ABOUT WINNING.
I get it. To win, one must do what it takes, (fancy word for cheating inserted here). It’s sad, but you’re correct. What a fucked up world.
One of the most powerful posts on this site, and there are a lot.
I’ve seen this day in and day out in my life. Always being the youngest in a job and all the old heads jealous of how quickly I moved up because they weren’t willing to tell other people what to do. It’s not about being an asshole, it’s about doing what needs to be done to get shit done.
Back when I was living in Thailand everybody would be wondering how I could ball out while they were chasing balloons with all the other cheap charlies. It was because I was able to do what I wanted because I was willing to do what was needed to be in that situation.
The few times where I was screwed over in business was because I showed weakness and tried to lend a hand to somebody else who needed it. No good deed goes unpunished. Be a lion! Let those that follow stand by the wayside and never give them a second thought. Take care of you and yours and you will be happier than you have ever been.
Punter has it exactly correct.
Good. Reminds me of Osho’philosophy ” What is real rebellion ? ” Very good. Still on the road to my sucess.
I recently bought an asset that was priced at 1/2 of its true value. It was a willing buyer /willing seller relationship. I knew going into the deal that the asset was being sold for way less than its worth. Im now poised to make over a 6 figure profit from the deal. Now some would look at this and say I “cheated” the other party. But did I? The other party was please with what they received and considered it fair. Based upon their knowledge of the situation and skill set - it was. My skill set, based upon years of knowledge and experience, enabled me to extract significantly more value from the asset, than the other party could have - had they not sold it.
Great comment Rock.
By the way you phrase it, no. That sounds like it was just a good opportunity. A little unfortunate for the other party, but they were ignorant of the value of that asset.
I would call it cheating if you flat out lied to the seller, for example calling this asset a fake knockoff when it wasn’t, and you were well aware of it. But your integrity is your concern, not mine.
Thank you Vic! I’m 22 right now, I always feel guilty whenever I break some rules laid by unsuccessful people especially my loved ones. This time, I’ll take control of my life and do what it takes to achieve my mission, that is FREEDOM!
Thank you for another amazing article Victor, you somehow outdo yourself every single time.
The first time i noticed the honest man trait in myself:
Years ago, me and my friends would get together and play a video game called “Halo”. In this game the objective was to kill your opponents(friends)as many times as possible. One of the best and easiest strategies to accomplish this was to control the Rocket Launcher(or certain other powerful weapons and vehicles).
I somehow got it in my head that using the Rocket Launcher was an “unfair advantage” because it was so easy to get kills with, so I would use the less powerful guns(Assault Rifle, etc..)instead. I was good at the game from playing so much, but would get very frustrated and angry because i would die repeatedly from whoever was using the Rockets.
In my head i would tell myself “I am still a better player than him, he just cheated by using Rockets”.
I do not remember why, but after months of thinking like this(and a few broken controllers)I finally decided to change my way of thinking and started going after the “power weapons”. From than on i began dominating the game by using this unfair advantage strategy, and got a much more enjoyable experience out of it.
Removing self imposed restraints. Many people never even try.
My man. Great comment Eric.
I used to play Halo too, before I gave up video games. They would always say the same thing about “camping” (for those unfamiliar, that’s staying in one easily defensible spot and killing people as they come by, while being very hard to kill yourself. Kind of like shooting deer from a tree stand). The thing is, people complain about this strategy BECAUSE IT WORKS.
I remember watching Pumping Iron and hearing Arnold talk about how he could win a competition by booking himself and his competitor in a room and basically talk him into losing. I used to think that was “cheating”. It took me a long time to realize that there is no rule that says you can’t do this. It’s not very nice, but it’s perfectly within the rules. I think a lot of nice, polite guys will look at something and call it cheating just because it doesn’t fit their view of what is nice or polite.
I know I used to.
It took a long time for me to break that particular mindset habit. But now I keep my mission as number 1, and when being nice and polite is important for my mission, that’s what I do. And when kicking asses is what’s required, that’s what I do.
I don’t think “nice guys” necessarily finish last, but I do think that “pointlessly nice guys” probably finish last.
Great post victor … i went through this realization also, and am still struggling because I was raised to be a “good boy” … but i agree 2ith you whole heartedly… a lot of people i see with no ambition and complaining about where they are in life will not change their mindset or belief system… I’m with you get your results by any means necessary…
*Mic Drop*
Reading this,”rich dad,poor dad,sell or be sold” “how to get rich” books all came to mind. Same mindset shift stuff they talk about.
This guy always finds the words to say what i know in my head to be true.
Another masterpiece indeed.
Amazing to see the way you have evolved as a person. I’ve been reading this blog pretty much since it began. I admire your total evolution and increased standards. Even the way you write has completely changed. Great work and keep it up!
Look forward to continuing my evolution and yours.
Ben
Great article.
Going through a phase of depression here, I’d rather shoot my brains out than carrying on another day, but here I am.
It seems that some people here confused “cheating” with being “doing illegal” or “do something wrong”. Cheating, in this context, is simply playing to the extreme of the rules, being on edge, always keeping the ROI in mind. Stealing $1M risking 20 yrs of jail? Not worth it, and this is not what this article is about. Getting $1M selling a book on “how to make $1M”? That is good, even if the book just says “write a book.” Victor is simply saying “be smart”.
Just yesterday at work I threw a pregnant woman under the bus (figuratively of course) for work/power reasons. Should I feel bad? Maybe. Do I feel bad? No. She’ll end up ok anyways, and honestly I do not care that much.
Hang in there man. If you need help for your depression, just search “how to get out of the depression phase reddit theredpill” on google
Hey Vic
some great and insightful stuff, would you say that taking modafinil is in the same sence as cheating, and if it gets you good results, thats good right.
umoja
Look up modafinil on this site.
Using things to gain an edge are a bit of a grey area, but only when you’re in some kind of fair competition. Who are you fairly competing with that a wakefulness drug would be cheating? I remember reading about this showing up in campuses and people crying that those who used it to help study were cheaters… Don’t think I had a better laugh before or since.
Yes u are right Prof. Pride.
“If you wish no harm to the honest man, if you wish to enlighten him instead, you may point him directly to this article so that he too may learn how to stop worrying about cheating and start winning, just like you.”
Mr. Pride, I agree with many important points you’ve brought to mind here in your article but for one I do not condone any “ungodly practices” that may be “cheating” in business and in life…
As a Christian I only stand by what the WORD OF THE LORD (King James Version Holy Bible [KJV]) is and while it’s known that “doing the right thing” may be not “personally beneficial” or convenient doing the RIGHT THING is ALWAYS RIGHT to do ALL THE TIME. No exceptions.
Never to be prosperous in life should any soul “do wrong” morally just because it may yield favourable results for self-interest.
That kind of mindset is permissible” in the world but NOT permissible as a believer and follower of the Lord Jesus Christ.
You have good experience Mr. Pride but as the Scripture says “The Fear of God is the beginning of Wisdom”.
Only so much you can “learn” in the world but if it’s not by the Spirit, it has no true power.
Someday I hope you’ll go to the “Highest Level” which is GOD’S. You have not even started there.
You need to TURN TO CHRIST. After knowing Him, you think you’ve had a “metamorphosis before”; you become an entirely different “new man”.
Hope to meet a “new Vic” someday… Amen.
~ Sincerely,
Bro. Jed
I’m sure many people will read this, and think it means you absolutely must take any means to succeed, no matter how underhanded or dastardly they might be - so long as you can get away with it. I don’t know how close that is to Mr. Pride’s intention, but I’ll explain something that follows how I interpret it.
In the world of programming an “honest man” in this case goes to school, pays thousands or hundreds of thousands of dollars for a course and quietly applies for jobs when it’s done, hoping to be the one in the pile HR throws the dart at.
A cheater hones their craft from a combination of cheap and free learning materials, contributes to, and creates open source projects, schmoozes with people in the field, and leisurely picks which headhunter to give a nice chunk of money to.
Very good. To all the people who think cheating means robbing and killing, this is the exact definition of “cheating” to get ahead.
Replace “honnest man” by “nice guy” and “cheater” by “bad boy” and this article suddenly solves most guy’s relationships problems.
When a text can be interpreted and applied to different topics and still remain relevant, that’s when you know it’s a masterpiece
Awesome, Victor.
The end justify the means.
I was thinking of Arnold Schwarzenegger whilst reading this article. What rules did he follow? None.
Okay, I understand the message of this article, but it seems as though you didn’t delve specifically enough into what kinds of things people would consider to be unfair. I get it that you have to do whatever it takes to get the results that you want, but what about your code of Ethics? How far are you willing to go to get the things you want? Steal from people? Kill people?
That’s why this is kind of broad - somebody might read this and think - Fuck yeah, I’m gonna go rob that old lady’s house.
Where is the code of ethics that actually matters? What exactly do you mean by cheating? I want to know, to see if maybe I am misinterpreting it.
Yeah, man, totally willing to kill people to become successful in business and in life because killing people is how you get to the top even if you go to prison for life.
“Fuck yeah, I’m gonna go rob that old lady’s house.”
Fuck yeah, man, let’s do it. Robbing old ladies is definitely how you cheat you way to the top, nevermind the definition of cheating spelled out clearly in this article: “What is cheating? Cheating is agreeing to a set of rules and then breaking those rules.” Nevermind that clear definition, just start robbing and killing old ladies. You will for sure find business success that way.
“Where is the code of ethics that actually matters?”
Don’t need a code of ethics, man, all you need to do to succeed in life and in business is to start robbing and killing. Robbing and killing is the EXACT same thing as cheating to get ahead in business.
——
John: “I’ve been on the phone all day, cold-calling leads and trying to get sales but I’m getting nowhere. How did you get so successful, Ted?
Ted: “By robbing old ladies, John. Killed a few too.”
John: “Right…. but how did that make you so successful?”
Ted: “Cheating bro”
Ahhh I just LOLd extremely hard at this, thank you Vic
“He who neglects what is actually done for what ought to be done, sooner brings about his ruin than his preservation … A man who wishes to live up to his professions of virtue in every circumstance soon meets with what destroys him among so many who are evil.”
- Machiavelli
Interesting writing style change here, Vic.
I used to have a boss (haha) that would cry about this exact thing. His brother was off enjoying women, abundance, money, travel, etc. He was “stuck” (of his own accord) putting veggies on the shelf.
I once asked him “Would you say, that in your life you played more by the rules, or that you took risks and listened to your own ideas?” and he answered with the former option.
Always take risks that could better your situation.
They’ll teach you something if you get set back, but if you win the rewards are unlimited. Always invest in your growth and learning, and do what it takes to get the result you want.
If you don’t, then you just don’t want it bad enough, but someone else does. Wherever you draw your own moral code line is up to you, but if you want a result you do what it takes. The good thing is that you can be an honest soul with positive intentions, but use every angle to gain your own advantage, along with helping others…
- You really can have it all -
Peace.
- Evan
Great comment Evan!
The best example I can find to illustrate this is a street fight. Law enforcement and self defense trainers say that most people who are confronted have “rules” embedded in their mind. The assailant follows no “fight” rules.
If you want to defend yourself from an assailant in a street fight you must not follow any kind of rule you think might be part of a “fair fight”. You should strike first if you can, and even kick the assailant in the nutsack if you must to get the advantage so you can survive.
I learned this lesson the hard way in business. Been taken advantage of as a landlord and I promised myself it would never happen to me again. Great post!
I am the President of a company. I work with many people who abide by the honest moral high ground attitude (whatever that may be). They are the best employees to have; predictable, gullible, and willing to work their fingers to the bone for others. At the end of the day they feel good about themselves for helping others get rich.
They look at the cut throat businessman as immoral. Cut throat, hard nosed, and kicking ass isn’t immoral. We are conditioned to go along with the pack and not make any noise. Play be your own set of rules, have your own plan and do it. Your not an asshole you are a winner.
Be Bold and Determined.
Excellent comment BW.
God Damn It Vic, there goes another computer that was the 4th on this week! Always putting out fire in your articles. SMH
i thought the author had an intolerance for stupidity. apparently not, because this was pretty stupid. (or at the very least, pretty thoughtless.)
the reality? weak people cheat. they bend rules because they’re losers who don’t have the wherewithal to win, and winning — by definition — is succeeding while conforming to the rules.
losers not only cheat, they redefine the notion of ‘winning.’
whatever. when i meet you cheating clowns i go out of my way to further bury you losers.
Couldn’t help but notice you wrote in all lower-case.
couldn’t help but notice you skirted the issue. (no pun intended. i can only assume you’re a pants guy.)
“the reality? weak people cheat. they bend rules because they’re losers who don’t have the wherewithal to win, and winning — by definition — is succeeding while conforming to the rules.”
^ Irony is that those ‘rules’ you are talking about are made by powerful people. Those ‘rules’ are meant to be for the average masses. People with power bend the rules all the time; this is nothing new. You sound so shocked to discover this. The world we live in is not a fairy tale. There will be people who make rules, people who follow them, and people who break them.
Does that mean they are losers? It just means they have more power. Why should anyone follow the rules? Rules are just that.. rules. Why limit yourself to such “rules”?
In war, it’s life and death and warriors don’t cry about “rules” or “Cheating”. They do whatever they got to do to win the battle, win the war and survive using all sorts of tactics.
The same mentality should be applied to life and business because the minute you impose self restrictions because of fear of “cheating”, it limits your capability to think outside the box. The people who want it badly and will do whatever it takes are the ones who usually end up with winning. It’s not cheating.
The concept of ‘cheating’ that you have in your mind is your own self imposed restrictions and inability to think outside the box. You really have to have experience in real world to understand this. From the look of your post, it seems like you are sheltered and pampered.
in fact, rules are made by *communities* of people, sometimes powerful, usually not powerful, and more often than not the rules aren’t even codified. but you’d have to have some background in law and sociology to understand the genesis of rules — good ones and bad ones — and how they govern your life.
when you say ‘rules are meant to be for the average mass(es),’ you’re generalizing about a specific subset of rules and mapping that generality on to all systems of regulation. but we know dictators ultimately get bullets in the head, and i think we can both agree that martin shkreli and his ilk are monumental losers. now why is this?
it’s because all rule-making *communities* ultimately aspire to the goal, albeit imperfect and perhaps unattainable, that no individual in the community is above the law. to say that ‘people in power bend the rules’ is a cliched expression used by those who have personal issues not with rules, but with *power*: people who crave power are themselves powerless. it’s their internal battle, their constant source of inadequacy. encouraging people to violate community standards because they feel inadequate is just goofy and childish, and it’s going to get a lot of people branded as scumbags and losers (although that’s probably a battle they’re already fighting, so perhaps they have little more to lose.)
if people don’t have the skills to survive according to the standards of the community, they can drop their whiny insecurities over powerlesness and develop them. they can turn off the porn and learn to think laterally. they can drag their underdeveloped genitals out of the gym and spend their time learning a new trade. or — are you ready? — they can work to change the standards. if not, trouble awaits them. and more trouble awaits them if they take short-cuts. short-cuts are for inefficacious pre-adolescents who haven’t really experienced the brunt of living among other human beings in a dignified way.
you’re clearly in pursuit of wisdom, and i can respect that. i would suggest you consider that in every war — in every battle we fight every day, whether we’re raising our hands or opening our mouths — there is honor and nobility in the fight, and maintaining *that* is the definition of manhood. to abandon honor
is to be a big, steaming pantload of a loser.
You do have some point there and I’m not saying you are necessarily wrong but I do want to say that rules can be broken where else laws cannot. Laws have severe consequences if broken.
There are grey areas of rules and where it overlaps towards law.
Example:
One day, I decide to jog outside in freezing, snowy winter with only my swim trunks on. No t-shirt, but just swim trunks and shoes. It’s not against the law to do this but all it takes is one phone call (I live in the US by the way). Perhaps a “concerned” neighbor phone call about a “suspicious” man “loitering” outside.
Any potential cop callers can exaggerate with words. (Neighborhood watch? ) Anyways, so a cop comes to investigate and stops me and asks me for ID. I say “Am I required by law to present you my ID?” and let’s say while verbal exchange, the cop perceives me of giving him an attitude so he throws in some bullshit charge like “disrupting the peace” or something.
So somehow an unwritten rule about jogging outside bareback in winter or perhaps I deviated from a norm because it’s not usual to see someone jogging bareback in winter. Even though there are no “rules” in my head, it just happen to be a situation where it can easily provoke someone to call the cops because someone might think that jogging outside bareback brings out “suspicious” behavior and perhaps it is “breaking the law”. Notice the quotations.
Now, when I read your original post, I think you misunderstood what Vic was writing.
You talk about cutting corners but if the results speak for itself, shouldn’t that matter? I mean who gives anyone a moral authority to dictate what is right and what is wrong? If I wanted to succeed in any way without hurting anyone, is that so much wrong of me?
I would use all sorts of tactics and resources to get ahead in life because I care about my future and success. Would that be “cheating”?
People bend rules because they have power. That’s what I wrote and you just reiterated that in one of your sentences.
At the end, we can agree to disagree and that’s fine by me, but to me… if the results speak for itself, I will use and obtain ALL sorts of method and I wouldn’t allow any self imposed restrictions on myself. If someone wants it badly then they will get it. You have to want it with obsession to get what you want.
“Be like water.”
So if success comes by doing what it takes,does that mean that even doing evil things to achieve your goals,for example join a secret society or exploit people?
Joining a secret society is evil?
Have you ever noticed how so many of the “honest men” end up doing the most terrible things?
Priests molesting kids. Terrorists and extremists killing people in the name of God.
They aren’t really honest because they’re not honest with their true nature and the true laws of reality. Some of the best people I know that do the most good are the most flexible and don’t stick to the strict rules of those “honest” people.
The book “Meeting the Shadow” talks about this in great detail. By not properly being in touch with and integrating our “dark sides” they grow subconsciously destroying us and making us do bad things.
By realizing our complete nature we are able to tap into our “dark side” as a source of power and use that energy productively and for the good of society.
Your talk about the can-do and can’t-do people reminded of what I tell my friends when they are being small minded.
I ask them: Are you an AmeriCAN’T or AmeriCAN?
Sometimes they laugh and get the point. Sometimea…
What happens when the “best” person for the job doesn’t “cheat” or win by the necessary means? When politicians with experience and manners, lose out to people like Arnold Schwarzenegger or Donald Trump? The cheaters win in these cases.
If you are the best person for the job and want a “moral” incentive to cheat, then realize that if you don’t win, someone else who is less qualified WILL win. I’ve seen it in my business and we all see it in politics. Imagine if the best, smartest, nicest person for the job, also acquired the tenacity, or “cheating” ways, of a Donald Trump. How much better would our world be, if we saw the best people in every field, also be the winners in their field?
How many dictators exist, because good citizens didn’t step up to the plate and take charge? How many women are unhappy, because the only guy to approach them was a loser that had tenacity? Imagine if a superhero like Batman, lost a fight just because he wasn’t willing to betray an arbitrary moral for the sake of everyone else, like let’s say fighting before 2pm. You could almost say it is your duty to win, for the sake of yourself and everyone else, if you are truly the best person for the job.
Great article, it’s like people who fish ineffectively the right way with a fishing pole and a lure that look at guys who use 12 foot cast nets that catch 20 fish in 15 seconds as cheaters, while they catch 1 fish an hour.