“Life at court is serious melancholy game of chess, which requires us to draw up our pieces and batteries, form a plan, pursue it, and parry that of our adversary. Sometimes however, it is better to take risks and play the most capricious unpredictable move”. JEAN DE LA BRUYERE 1645-1696.Nothing is more terrifying than the sudden and unpredictable. That is why we are so frightened by sudden Earthquakes and Tsunami. We do not know when they will strike. After one has occurred we wait in terror for the next one. We do not know when they will strike again. To a lesser degree, that is the effect of an unpredictable human behavior has on us.
We are able to kill and hunt animals because animals behave in a set pattern and that is why we are able to hunt them. Of course we do use our brain to hunt them. Only man has capability to alter his behavior, improvise and overcome weight of routine and habit. Humans prefer the comforts of routine and behave like animal repeating same compulsive actions again and again.
Unpredictability is not only weapon of terror ;Scrambling your patterns on day to day basis will cause stir around you and stimulate interest. People will talk about you, ascribe motives and explanations that have nothing to do with the truth, but that keep you constantly in their minds. An example is illustrated below :-
Maria Banerjee consciously did the opposite of what everyone expected of her. For instance she might suddenly shower a courtier with attention and then when subordinate will expect promotion, would suddenly start treating him with utmost disdain. Confused sub ordinate will forward the resignation to Maria. Looking at the resignation, Maria would suddenly recall him and start treating him well again. Doubly confused subordinate would wonder whether his assumption that he would be promoted had become obvious and offensive to Maria and would start to behave as if he no longer expected such honor. Maria would rebuke him for his lack of ambition and send him away.
The secret of handling Maria is simple : Do not presume to know what she wants. Do not try to guess what will please her. Never inject your will. Just surrender to her will then wait to see what happens. Amidst the confusion and uncertainty she created, Maria ruled supreme, unchallenged and at peace.
People are always trying to read motives behind your actions and to use your unpredictability against you. Behave in a completely inexplicable move and you put them on defensive.
Let’s look at another example :- For a while Subramanyam worked with art dealer Ganeshaswamy then one day for no reason he told the man that he no longer will give him his work to sell. When Subramanyam was asked for this behavior he said “ Ganeshaswamy would spend next 48 hrs thinking and trying to figure out why ? Was I reserving paintings for some other dealer? I would go on working whereas Ganeshaswamy would spend his time figuring out the reason. In two days he would come back saying “ After all dear friend you would not turn me down if I offered you for those painting in less price rather than the price which I have been paying you. Would you ??
“Always mystify, mislead and surprise the enemy if possible…. Such tactics will win every time and small army may thus destroy the large one” says General Jackson.
A wind that cannot be foreseen. Sudden shifts in the barometer, inexplicable changes in direction and velocity. There is no defense. A cyclone sows terror and confusion. “ The enlightened ruler is so mysterious that he seems to dwell nowhere, so inexplicable that no one can seek him. He reposes in non action above and his ministers tremble below” JEAN DE LA BRUYERE 1645-1696.
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