Who are you talking to (in your mind)?...

I liked Robert Ringer's book, "Million Dollar Habits," so I 'gave in' to the pull of getting his 'classic' tome, "winning Through Intimidation."

I just finished listening to the cd version that book (now called "To Be Or Not To Be Intimidated").

Dan Kennedy always recommends the book.

I, like a lot of people, resisted reading it because I don't want to even enter that world. But, I was assured that it isn't about HOW TO intimidate -- it's more like how to win IN SPITE OF others intimidating you! The word "through" in the original title being somewhat ambiguous -- as if the title SHOULD have been, "Winning BEYOND Intimidation," or something.

Welp, after hearing the book, I'd say I was right in the first place -- it *IS* about how to intimidate others!

The 'defense' of such a depressing outlook is, everyone's out to get you, so you may as well PLAY THEIR GAME, and intimidate them right back.

It's about fighting fire with fire!!!

Ringer says his 'learning experiences' were enrollment in 'Screw U' and depicts the world (the business world, at least), as being a jungle (or, more accurately, a PRISON YARD).

Everyone's out to get you -- even the 'nice' people are only ACTING nice -- they're out to screw you too!

Can that really be true?

I refuse to exist in that vision of the world. Is that me being blind? Am I just 'relying on the kindness of strangers?'

I have a very good friend who DOES see the world as being one big prison yard. He's doing much better than I am. Is that a sign?

Ringer warns that whatever you try, you'll be met with dishonest people who are out to screw you -- like that movie about the guy who invented the intermintent windshield wipers.

He says there is NO ONE out there who wants to see you (or me) get what we deserve (our 'chips,' as he calls it).

EVERYONE is evil, he says.

Does that mean I cannot get ANYWHERE with ideas that I want to sell to (big) companies? I've heard others who say the exact opposite of that. That one need NOT be guarded. That people are NOT out to steal ideas, really.

What I'm wondering is, I guess, is there such a thing as people who are "BIG" enough to be ***MAGNANIMOUS*** ??? (as in the "GROUP 1" in my OP)

Or, is EVERYONE just out to STEAL whatever they can -- no matter how "NICE" they may appear.

Are the trusting ones (like me) just useful idiots, to be picked clean by the VULTURES out there -- and it's all as simple as that??

Am I just getting by in life to the extent that I ALLOW others to take advantage of me (aka screw me)???
Am I merely 'liked' to the extent that I ALLOW others to STEAMROLL over me?

(I do notice it's a lot easier find people who are very friendly towards me, when I am the one PAYING THEM (relationships in which I am the payER), than it is to find 'friends' who are paying ME (relationships in which I am the payEE).)

Please advise.

Thanks!

-- TW