The 50th Law (with 50 Cent)

Toxic Types
Although each person’s character is as unique as a fingerprint, we can
notice throughout history certain types that keep recurring and that

---

can be particularly pernicious to deal with. As opposed to the more
obviously evil or manipulative characters that you can spot a mile
away, these types are trickier. They often lure you in with an
appearance that presents their weaknesses as something positive. Only
over time do you see the toxic nature beneath the appearance, often
when it is too late. Your best defense is to be armed with knowledge of
these types, to notice the signs earlier on, and to not get involved or to
disengage from them as quickly as possible.
The Hyperperfectionist:
You are lured into their circle by how hard
they work, how dedicated they are to making the best of whatever it is
they produce. They put in longer hours than even the lowliest
employee. Yes, they might explode and yell at people below them for
not doing the job right, but that is because they want to maintain the
highest standards, and that should be a good thing. But if you have the
misfortune of agreeing to work with or for such a type, you will slowly
discover the reality. They cannot delegate tasks; they have to oversee
everything. It is less about high standards and dedication to the group
than about power and control.
Such people often have dependency issues stemming from their
family background, similar to Howard Hughes. Any feeling that they
might have to depend on someone for something opens up old wounds
and anxieties. They can’t trust anyone. Once their back is turned, they
imagine everyone slacking off. Their compulsive need to micromanage
leads to people feeling resentful and secretly resistant, which is
precisely what they fear the most. You will notice that the group they
lead is not very well organized, since everything must flow through
them. This leads to chaos and political infighting as the courtiers
struggle to get closer to the king, who controls everything.
Hyperperfectionists will often have health problems, as they work
themselves to the bone. They like to blame others for everything that
goes wrong—nobody is working hard enough. They have patterns of
initial success followed by burnout and spectacular failures. It is best to
recognize the type before getting enmeshed on any level. They cannot
be satisfied by anything you do and will chew you up slowly with their
anxieties, abusiveness, and desire to control.