In 1995 when I wrote the word “Power” down on hotel stationary in San Francisco, I meant “the ability to get things done.” There are many kinds of power and thus ways to get things done. There is force. There is persuasion. There is money. There is influence. Sometimes all of these combined. But aspiring to have power? Some would bristle. Power can certainly be a bad thing but so can inaction, and either can be good depending on the context. I just wanted to be able to make things happen, and Power seemed like the best word.

Even if one can get it, power is fleeting not just because it often has a shelf life, but also because its effective use depends on timing. Exercising power has consequences just as doing nothing does. I would say that of four indicators, I’ve had power less often and in lower concentration than any of the others. When I’ve had it, I’ve tried to use it well. When one does have power, Freedom and Creativity can fade; Power requires attention and concentration to get and keep. It’s not about being bossy either, but exercising it means being tied to obligations and responsibility.

<–Day Four: Freedom is Not the Same as Control
Day Six: Power as Energy, Intention, and Intuition–>