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The Will to Power

Along with Philosophy, "Paths to Power" would be another course I would certainly take had I come across it during my tertiary education. An academic approach to understanding the concept of power in the corporate perspective is indeed welcoming.

One  cannot agree more to Schumpeter's key points of advice, but may readily interpret them in a broader context, and in a more straight-forward manner.

Joining the right department is surely the most critically fundamental step on the path to power. But one may as well suggest finding the right job in the right company and within the right industry as being the most deterministic step in the first place. In reality, however, it means what is important is to find and align oneself with the right power base, whatever one is doing.

The ability to manage upward, despite its synonym of deprecating connotation - shoe-shining,  is indeed one important competence for career progress. Of course this is taking for granted all basic qualifications and skills required for each job which, however, could only get one so far in, let alone beyond, it.

Networking is important in that it allows one the opportunities to find, come across and align with people in power, i.e., by way of serendipity, to invest time in expanding ones power base, instead of socializing unscrupulously.

As to the art of loyalty, it means always knowing and recognizing who your boss is, but also, who is really in charge.

Finally, "the key to power is to understand its corrupting effect". So true, as is understanding Solon's teaching - that the tide of fortune can be reversed at any time and should not be taken for granted.

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