I am an international who have to work at this position to survive. It is physically and mentally draining. It's not beneficial. I wish I reach the day which I will quit this job forever. It's hard seeing the people eat and enjoy while I am dipping in these dirt. It also makes me poorer. I will work in it as long as I have to work so I can get savings and get my on campus job.
I’m in my early 20s, and right now, life is a war of attrition. I am operating from a total deficit—no safety net, no financial leverage. While I am fascinated by The Laws of Power and The Art of Seduction, my current reality feels like the complete opposite of power.
Every day, I wear a mask. I act weak, "pathetic," and fearful just to stay under the radar. I play this role to keep an unskilled, grueling job because I have no backup. I feel forced to accept the domination of others just to survive until I can finish my degree and enter a high-level professional field.
My question to this community:
Am I making an excuse by waiting for a "skilled job" and financial backing to start applying these strategies? Or is this "pathetic" phase actually a masterclass in Strategic Submission?
Is this "low-power" persona an anti-seductive dead end, or is it a temporary, painful stage of a larger arc? I’m essentially suppressing my ego and my anger to secure my survival. I feel crushed by my circumstances, but I’m trying to treat this as a "Death Ground" strategy.
Is it possible to be seductive or powerful when you are at the absolute bottom, or is it a mechanical reality that without money and status, you have no moves? How do you maintain your internal pride when your external reality demands you play the role of the submissive?
I’m not interested in intense competition or accumulating great wealth. I have no desire to climb the corporate ladder or compete for high-level positions in major firms. My goal is simply to be a researcher—perhaps within a government agency—living far from major cities with a comfortable salary. Is this lifestyle achievable with my degree, or would I need to become a professor at a remote university to make it work?
1. Nature vs. Nurture: Are Seductive Archetypes Inherent or Acquired?
Do the characters described in the book require an innate talent—such as natural charm—or can these personas be developed through experience and deliberate practice?
2. Identifying Friction in Social Interactions and Initial Rapport
I am struggling to make strangers feel comfortable during small talk, which makes it difficult for them to open up to me. I am unsure if the issue lies in my approach, my body language, my vocal tone, my level of confidence, or perhaps the way my distrust of others manifests.
3. Achieving Conscious Communication and Silencing the Internal Conscience
How can I eliminate my automatic responses so that I can speak with full consciousness and choose my words carefully, even though I am a slow speaker? Furthermore, how can I suppress my conscience (damiri) so that I am not as cautious with people and can fully inhabit a character? Does the second part of the book address whether these answers are provided or not?