The 50th Law (with 50 Cent)

Absorb purposeful energy.
We humans are extremely susceptible to the
moods and energy of other people. For this reason, you want to avoid
too much contact with those who have a low or false sense of purpose.
On the other hand, you always want to try to find and associate with
those who have a high sense of purpose. This could be the perfect
mentor or teacher or partner on a project. Such people will tend to
bring out the best in you, and you will find it easier and even refreshing
to receive their criticisms.
This was the strategy that brought Coco Chanel (see chapter 5) so
much power. She began life from a position of great weakness—an
orphan with little or no resources in life. She realized in her early
twenties that her calling was to design clothes and to start her own
apparel line. She desperately needed guidance, however, particularly
when it came to the business side. She looked for people who could
help her find her way. At the age of twenty-five she met the perfect
target, a wealthy older English businessman named Arthur “Boy”
Capel. She was attracted to his ambition, his well-rounded experience,
his knowledge of the arts, and his ruthless practicality.
She latched onto him with great vehemence. He was able to instill in
her the confidence that she could become a famous designer. He
taught her about business in general. He offered her tough criticisms
that she could accept because of her deep respect for him. He helped
guide her in her first important decisions in setting up her business.
From him she developed a very honed sense of purpose that she
retained her entire life. Without his influence, her path would have
been too confusing and difficult. Later in life, she kept returning to this
strategy. She found other men and women who had skills she lacked or
needed to strengthen—social graciousness, marketing, a nose for
cultural trends—and developed relationships that allowed her to learn
from them.

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In this case, you want to find people who are pragmatic and not
merely those who are charismatic or visionaries. You want their
practical advice, and to absorb their spirit of getting things done. If
possible, collect around you a group of people from different fields, as
friends or associates, who have similar energy. You will help elevate
one another’s sense of purpose. Do not settle for virtual associations or
mentors. They will not have the same effect.