-Robert Greene
This was probably one of my favorite podcasts I’ve ever done.
A couple months ago, I sat down with Robert Greene, master of human psychology and author of The 48 Laws of Power.
What started as a conversation turned into a playbook for anyone building a business, leading a team, or navigating high-stakes decisions.
8 lessons from our chat that I think about almost every day while building Contrarian Thinking:
I learned this the hard way, twice. I made myself look good instead of making my bosses look great. Both times, I got quietly iced out. Not fired. Just… bypassed.
Robert nailed it:
If I were still corporate, this would be tattooed above my desk.
Your natural instinct is to obsess over yourself.
Robert calls that a trap.
He learned this not from power, but from powerlessness, bouncing through jobs, watching people, studying flaws, decoding insecurities.
Learn to read the room. Not just your own reflection.
Some people don’t have bad luck, they cause it.
I’ve seen it. I’ve hired it. And I’ve paid for it.
If you sit near a top performer, you’re something like 15% more likely to perform well. Sit near a low performer? You’re 30% more likely to underperform.
Energy is contagious. So is dysfunction.
In business, the instinct is to dominate. Win the deal. Crush the competitor.
The smarter play is to let them leave with dignity. Give them an honorable exit, a way to make them feel like they “win” too.
Robert said it best:
I’ve used this in negotiations more times than I can count. Instead of cornering someone, I give them a way out — a story they can tell themselves where they still win.
I’ve rushed hires, jumped on deals, made reactive decisions just to get things done. And paid for it. Most people live in “tactical hell,” Robert says.
Reacting, firefighting, stuck in the moment.
Think like a general, not a firefighter.
Social media has made it easy for people to overshare. But sometimes, the most strategic move is to step back.
Robert told a story about a celebrity who felt pressured to post constantly. His advice?
Too much exposure kills curiosity. Too much access kills authority.
Let people wonder. Let absence amplify your presence.
Direct criticism triggers ego. People stop listening and start defending.
Robert’s move? Ask a question.
That’s the art: don’t instruct, influence. I use this almost daily now.
Lead them to the insight. Let them take credit. That’s real influence.
You’re not a dictator, but you’re not a best friend either.
Love makes people comfortable. Fear makes them careful.
Netflix once gave employees full freedom to expense things, as long as it was in the best interest of the company.
When someone crossed the line? They were fired. Because everyone needed to see the boundary.
Robert told a similar story about legendary coach Vince Lombardi:
Create freedom. Enforce consequences. Respect and performance follow.
I loved every second of my conversation with Robert Greene.
Subscribe to the podcast and check out the full episode here:
https://youtu.be/M3cdPis--kU
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