Law 13: When asking for help, appeal to people’s self-interest, never to their mercy; The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene

I know the feeling. You’re in a situation where you really want something from someone, but they just aren’t interested in helping you. It’s frustrating, right? You want to know how to get them to see things your way.

Well, there is a way to do that, and it’s called the 13th law of power: “Appeal to people’s self-interest.”

The idea behind this law is that people are more likely to do something for you if they see it as being in their own best interest. So, if you want to get what you want, you need to figure out how to make it seem like it’s in their best interest to help you.

Here are a few tips for appealing to people’s self-interest:

For example, if your boss is motivated by money, you could point out that giving you a raise would help them save money in the long run. Or, if your friend is motivated by social status, you could remind them that helping you out would make them look good in front of others.

For example, if you’re trying to convince your boss to give you a raise, you could say something like, “I’m confident that I can generate even more revenue if I’m given a raise. This would mean more money for the company, and it would also mean a promotion for me.”

This means being able to back up your claims with evidence. If you’re trying to convince your boss that you’re worth a raise, you could show them your recent performance reviews or provide them with data that shows how you’ve increased sales.

This doesn’t mean being pushy or annoying. It just means being persistent in your efforts to persuade them. If you keep showing them how it’s in their best interest to help you, they’ll eventually see the light.

I hope these tips help you to understand the 13th law of power and how you can use it to your advantage. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.