Power gets a bad rap, but only because people pursue it for the wrong reasons. When power is pursued for the right reasons, it can be a tremendous force for good.

權力生禍害，但往往是因為追求之人別有用心。如果取之有道，就能受益無窮。

Niccolo Machiavelli spread the belief that people can only become powerful by exploiting the worst aspects of human nature. One of this teachings was, “A wise ruler ought never to keep faith when by doing so it would be against his interests.” Machiavelli was essentially saying that you’re an idiot if you keep your promises or stick to your values when you’d benefit more by breaking them.

馬基雅弗利曾經宣稱：人類欲當權，必取于性之本惡。一句教條便是“統治者無法信教，因為這和對權力的追逐互為矛盾”本意為，若有所信仰卻總為利益將其打破，那么與傻子無異。

Not only did we hear it from Machiavelli, but also from plenty of voices in our own time, such as Robert Greene, who said, “The key to power is the ability to judge who is best able to further your interests in all situations.” It’s no wonder so many people think that the only way to get power is to be a jerk.

不僅他如是說，當代之同道者亦比比皆是。如羅伯特·格林所言“權力來源于無論何處境都可將利益最大化的能力”如此，人們多認為只有無良可奪權也在情理之中。

Fortunately, Machiavelli and Greene had something in common: They were both wrong. Recent research from UC Berkeley shows that when it comes to power, nice guys finish first. The researchers found that the most powerful people (according to ratings from their peers) were those who were the most considerate and outgoing. They also found that those who were the most Machiavellian — using things like gossip and manipulation to gain power — were quickly identified and isolated and ended up with no power at all.

然而上述二人的言論都過去片面。伯克利大學的最新研究稱，人品佳是得權之首因。如同事評價，位高權重中者往往是最貼心外向之人；而玩弄是非者如馬基雅弗利，不久便被識破、孤立以致一無所獲。

Studies like these are rehabilitating power’s bad rap. Power isn’t inherently evil, and it isn’t inherently bad to seek power. Without power, you can’t accomplish anything, good or evil. Even those who want nothing more than to make the world a better place, can’t do so without exerting the influence of personal power. It’s the abuse of power and the underhanded things people do to achieve it that cause problems.

如是之學術發現權力生禍昭雪。權力本無錯，全當看用者。但若無權，則必無所作為，無論好壞。即使本意全然是好而無權，其言亦無關痛癢。濫用職權、暗流涌動，終將導致禍患產生。

People who earn and use power wisely have a profound impact on everyone they encounter. Yet, they achieve this power only because they exert so much influence inside, on themselves. We see only their outside; we see them innovate, speak their mind, and propel themselves forward toward bigger and better things. Yet, we’re missing the best part. The confidence and wherewithal that make their influence possible are earned.

當權者，明智于可深入影響任一相識者；可為之，則在于其自身。外表、行為，外物也；創新之意、陳述己見、逆流直前，都不成其本，自信及必要手段才是先決條件。

And while what people are influenced by changes with the season, the unique habits of powerful people remain constant. Their focused pursuit of excellence is driven by eleven habits, which you can emulate and absorb until your power and influence expand:

不易動搖之毅力是其特質，著注于追求卓越有下因素，汝等可引以鑒之：

1.They don’t wait for a title to lead. It’s important not to confuse power with authority. The right title can give you authority, but it can’t give you power. On the other hand, you don’t need a title to be powerful. You can lead without being a boss and you can have a powerful influence upon your workplace and community without a title.

1.處江湖之遠亦可領銜。權威與權力，不可對等。頭銜名號予之權威，卻未及權力。不成頭領，亦可發揮領導才干，鑄就影響力。

2. They’re graciously disruptive. Powerful people are never satisfied with the status quo. They’re the ones who constantly ask, “What if?” and “Why not?” They’re not afraid to challenge conventional wisdom, and they don’t disrupt things for the sake of being disruptive; they do so to make things better.

2.樂于打破常規先例。陳詞濫調不足以稱其為道也，時常發問為此人之本性；保守論調不成其阻礙也，打破常規為成善，而非為搞事。

3.They think for themselves. Powerful people aren’t buffeted by the latest trend or by public opinion. They form their opinions carefully, based on the facts. They’re more than willing to change their mind when the facts support it, but they aren’t influenced by what other people think, only by what they know.

3.獨立思考成事。此類人輕從他人之見解，而必自省以成己見。成見必審慎，以事實為支撐，能否取他人之見解則因時為異.

4.They focus only on what really matters. Powerful people aren’t distracted by trivialities. They’re able to cut through the static and clutter, focus on what matters, and point it out to everyone else. They speak only when they have something important to say, and they never bore people with idle banter.

4.要事為先。瑣事不足掛記，須得當分配之以為己分清主從，因此其言語多無贅言，取事件之精要呈現也。

5. They master conflict. People tend to err on one of two extremes when it comes to conflict: some are passive and avoid conflict altogether, while others seek out conflict aggressively, thinking that this will make them powerful. People who master conflict know how to approach it directly and assertively, yet constructively. In essence, they practice emotional intelligence. Truly powerful people do not react emotionally and defensively to dissenting opinions — they welcome them. They’re humble enough to know that they don’t know everything and that someone else might see something they missed. And if that person is right, they embrace the idea wholeheartedly, because they care more about the end result than being right.

5.矛盾控制者也。每遇矛盾發生，世人易分兩極端：遠避之或強糾之。而智者可究其根本，直擊要害，有所獲得——情緒之智慧為處事根本。真正強者不武斷于遠離或拒絕反對意見，而認真聽取，因其明知他人或可補己短。若他人所言為是，其必糾改錯誤，為成果打算。

6. They inspire conversation. When powerful people speak, their words spread like ripples in a pond. Influencers inspire everyone around them to explore new ideas and to think differently about their work.

6.鼓勵思考交流。每強者發言時，吐字連珠，聽者皆有所思考，并作用于其各自工作，得以提升。

7. They know their strengths and weaknesses. People who get seduced by power and, therefore, start abusing it are often blind to their own weaknesses. To become truly powerful, you have to see yourself as you really are and to position yourself to use your strengths for the greater good. That means taking a clear-eyed look at your strengths and your weaknesses and owning them both completely.

7.明了一己之長短。玩弄權力者往往受其短處蒙蔽，真正成事者則挖掘短板，善用長板，了解利用全部。

8. They grow and leverage their networks. Those who grow power the Machiavellian way don’t bother with people who aren’t useful to them. People see this coming a mile away, and it doesn’t win any friends. Truly powerful people know how to make lasting connections. Not only do they know a lot of people, they get to know their connections’ connections. More importantly, they add value to everyone in their network. They share advice and know how, and they make connections between people who should get to know each other.

8.發展社交網絡。濫用權力者難發展有效社交，至多為交集，長線關系為關鍵也。知其人，亦識其友。價值鏈個環之分配，使得交集之產生變為價值之傳遞。

9. They ask for help when they need it. It’s easy to mistakenly assume that powerful people never ask for help from anybody. Asking for help when you don’t know the answer or can’t do it all by yourself is not a sign of weakness; it’s a sign of strength. It sends the message that you’re not so insecure as to put your ego above the mission. It takes a tremendous amount of confidence and humility to admit that you need assistance, and asking for assistance is critical, because there’s nothing worse than trucking down the wrong path when you’re too embarrassed or proud to admit that you don’t know what you’re doing.

9.有求于人必求之。強者多難以自強，承認不足實為能力也。以完成任務為目的而求人，不因自尊心放任不確定事項之處置——其本身亦為自信與自強之體現。求人雖尷尬，選錯道路更可怕。

10. They believe. Powerful people always expect the best. They believe in their own power to achieve their dreams, and they believe that others share that same power. They believe that nothing is out of reach and that belief inspires those around them to stretch for their own goals. They firmly believe that one person can change the world.

10.有所執念。能力者希求最好，并認定可通過團結一致達到目標。一切皆有可能，只要肯為之努力。只一人也足以改變世界。

11. They do it now. Powerful people know that developing power is a lot like lifting weights or running a 5K. The only way to strengthen those muscles is by using them, so stop making excuses and just start.Yes, it will be uncomfortable at times, and yes, some people will tell you you’re doing it wrong, but the only way to achieve power and use it for good is to get out there and do it.

11.從此刻做起。能力者做大事，如舉重之疊加重量或疾走五里路，只得常用以強健肌肉，而非借口拖延之。總會不爽，會得到質疑，但欲成功必嘗試堅持。

Bringing It All Together

結論

Boris Yeltsin once said, “You can make a throne of bayonets, but you can’t sit on it for very long.” Forget everything you’ve heard about power, because, in the end, the nice guys really do win. Whether you call it power or influence, it’s okay to want it and it’s okay to have it. You just have to pursue it and use it with integrity.

葉利欽曾言“以刺刀奪權，難長也”。權力生禍之言不可全信之，因如今事實反之。言其權力或影響力，都可欲求之，但確保擇正道以求。

Power gets a bad rap, but only because people pursue it for the wrong reasons. When power is pursued for the right reasons, it can be a tremendous force for good.

權力生禍害，但往往是因為追求之人別有用心。如果取之有道，就能受益無窮。

Niccolo Machiavelli spread the belief that people can only become powerful by exploiting the worst aspects of human nature. One of this teachings was, “A wise ruler ought never to keep faith when by doing so it would be against his interests.” Machiavelli was essentially saying that you’re an idiot if you keep your promises or stick to your values when you’d benefit more by breaking them.

馬基雅弗利曾經宣稱：人類欲當權，必取于性之本惡。一句教條便是“統治者無法信教，因為這和對權力的追逐互為矛盾”本意為，若有所信仰卻總為利益將其打破，那么與傻子無異。

Not only did we hear it from Machiavelli, but also from plenty of voices in our own time, such as Robert Greene, who said, “The key to power is the ability to judge who is best able to further your interests in all situations.” It’s no wonder so many people think that the only way to get power is to be a jerk.

不僅他如是說，當代之同道者亦比比皆是。如羅伯特·格林所言“權力來源于無論何處境都可將利益最大化的能力”如此，人們多認為只有無良可奪權也在情理之中。

Fortunately, Machiavelli and Greene had something in common: They were both wrong. Recent research from UC Berkeley shows that when it comes to power, nice guys finish first. The researchers found that the most powerful people (according to ratings from their peers) were those who were the most considerate and outgoing. They also found that those who were the most Machiavellian — using things like gossip and manipulation to gain power — were quickly identified and isolated and ended up with no power at all.

然而上述二人的言論都過去片面。伯克利大學的最新研究稱，人品佳是得權之首因。如同事評價，位高權重中者往往是最貼心外向之人；而玩弄是非者如馬基雅弗利，不久便被識破、孤立以致一無所獲。

Studies like these are rehabilitating power’s bad rap. Power isn’t inherently evil, and it isn’t inherently bad to seek power. Without power, you can’t accomplish anything, good or evil. Even those who want nothing more than to make the world a better place, can’t do so without exerting the influence of personal power. It’s the abuse of power and the underhanded things people do to achieve it that cause problems.

如是之學術發現權力生禍昭雪。權力本無錯，全當看用者。但若無權，則必無所作為，無論好壞。即使本意全然是好而無權，其言亦無關痛癢。濫用職權、暗流涌動，終將導致禍患產生。

People who earn and use power wisely have a profound impact on everyone they encounter. Yet, they achieve this power only because they exert so much influence inside, on themselves. We see only their outside; we see them innovate, speak their mind, and propel themselves forward toward bigger and better things. Yet, we’re missing the best part. The confidence and wherewithal that make their influence possible are earned.

當權者，明智于可深入影響任一相識者；可為之，則在于其自身。外表、行為，外物也；創新之意、陳述己見、逆流直前，都不成其本，自信及必要手段才是先決條件。

And while what people are influenced by changes with the season, the unique habits of powerful people remain constant. Their focused pursuit of excellence is driven by eleven habits, which you can emulate and absorb until your power and influence expand:

不易動搖之毅力是其特質，著注于追求卓越有下因素，汝等可引以鑒之：

1.They don’t wait for a title to lead. It’s important not to confuse power with authority. The right title can give you authority, but it can’t give you power. On the other hand, you don’t need a title to be powerful. You can lead without being a boss and you can have a powerful influence upon your workplace and community without a title.

1.處江湖之遠亦可領銜。權威與權力，不可對等。頭銜名號予之權威，卻未及權力。不成頭領，亦可發揮領導才干，鑄就影響力。

2. They’re graciously disruptive. Powerful people are never satisfied with the status quo. They’re the ones who constantly ask, “What if?” and “Why not?” They’re not afraid to challenge conventional wisdom, and they don’t disrupt things for the sake of being disruptive; they do so to make things better.

2.樂于打破常規先例。陳詞濫調不足以稱其為道也，時常發問為此人之本性；保守論調不成其阻礙也，打破常規為成善，而非為搞事。

3.They think for themselves. Powerful people aren’t buffeted by the latest trend or by public opinion. They form their opinions carefully, based on the facts. They’re more than willing to change their mind when the facts support it, but they aren’t influenced by what other people think, only by what they know.

3.獨立思考成事。此類人輕從他人之見解，而必自省以成己見。成見必審慎，以事實為支撐，能否取他人之見解則因時為異.

4.They focus only on what really matters. Powerful people aren’t distracted by trivialities. They’re able to cut through the static and clutter, focus on what matters, and point it out to everyone else. They speak only when they have something important to say, and they never bore people with idle banter.

4.要事為先。瑣事不足掛記，須得當分配之以為己分清主從，因此其言語多無贅言，取事件之精要呈現也。

5. They master conflict. People tend to err on one of two extremes when it comes to conflict: some are passive and avoid conflict altogether, while others seek out conflict aggressively, thinking that this will make them powerful. People who master conflict know how to approach it directly and assertively, yet constructively. In essence, they practice emotional intelligence. Truly powerful people do not react emotionally and defensively to dissenting opinions — they welcome them. They’re humble enough to know that they don’t know everything and that someone else might see something they missed. And if that person is right, they embrace the idea wholeheartedly, because they care more about the end result than being right.

5.矛盾控制者也。每遇矛盾發生，世人易分兩極端：遠避之或強糾之。而智者可究其根本，直擊要害，有所獲得——情緒之智慧為處事根本。真正強者不武斷于遠離或拒絕反對意見，而認真聽取，因其明知他人或可補己短。若他人所言為是，其必糾改錯誤，為成果打算。

6. They inspire conversation. When powerful people speak, their words spread like ripples in a pond. Influencers inspire everyone around them to explore new ideas and to think differently about their work.

6.鼓勵思考交流。每強者發言時，吐字連珠，聽者皆有所思考，并作用于其各自工作，得以提升。

7. They know their strengths and weaknesses. People who get seduced by power and, therefore, start abusing it are often blind to their own weaknesses. To become truly powerful, you have to see yourself as you really are and to position yourself to use your strengths for the greater good. That means taking a clear-eyed look at your strengths and your weaknesses and owning them both completely.

7.明了一己之長短。玩弄權力者往往受其短處蒙蔽，真正成事者則挖掘短板，善用長板，了解利用全部。

8. They grow and leverage their networks. Those who grow power the Machiavellian way don’t bother with people who aren’t useful to them. People see this coming a mile away, and it doesn’t win any friends. Truly powerful people know how to make lasting connections. Not only do they know a lot of people, they get to know their connections’ connections. More importantly, they add value to everyone in their network. They share advice and know how, and they make connections between people who should get to know each other.

8.發展社交網絡。濫用權力者難發展有效社交，至多為交集，長線關系為關鍵也。知其人，亦識其友。價值鏈個環之分配，使得交集之產生變為價值之傳遞。

9. They ask for help when they need it. It’s easy to mistakenly assume that powerful people never ask for help from anybody. Asking for help when you don’t know the answer or can’t do it all by yourself is not a sign of weakness; it’s a sign of strength. It sends the message that you’re not so insecure as to put your ego above the mission. It takes a tremendous amount of confidence and humility to admit that you need assistance, and asking for assistance is critical, because there’s nothing worse than trucking down the wrong path when you’re too embarrassed or proud to admit that you don’t know what you’re doing.

9.有求于人必求之。強者多難以自強，承認不足實為能力也。以完成任務為目的而求人，不因自尊心放任不確定事項之處置——其本身亦為自信與自強之體現。求人雖尷尬，選錯道路更可怕。

10. They believe. Powerful people always expect the best. They believe in their own power to achieve their dreams, and they believe that others share that same power. They believe that nothing is out of reach and that belief inspires those around them to stretch for their own goals. They firmly believe that one person can change the world.

10.有所執念。能力者希求最好，并認定可通過團結一致達到目標。一切皆有可能，只要肯為之努力。只一人也足以改變世界。

11. They do it now. Powerful people know that developing power is a lot like lifting weights or running a 5K. The only way to strengthen those muscles is by using them, so stop making excuses and just start.Yes, it will be uncomfortable at times, and yes, some people will tell you you’re doing it wrong, but the only way to achieve power and use it for good is to get out there and do it.

11.從此刻做起。能力者做大事，如舉重之疊加重量或疾走五里路，只得常用以強健肌肉，而非借口拖延之。總會不爽，會得到質疑，但欲成功必嘗試堅持。

Bringing It All Together

結論

Boris Yeltsin once said, “You can make a throne of bayonets, but you can’t sit on it for very long.” Forget everything you’ve heard about power, because, in the end, the nice guys really do win. Whether you call it power or influence, it’s okay to want it and it’s okay to have it. You just have to pursue it and use it with integrity.

葉利欽曾言“以刺刀奪權，難長也”。權力生禍之言不可全信之，因如今事實反之。言其權力或影響力，都可欲求之，但確保擇正道以求。