The concept of Power

Power is a function of your network. A network of the people you know and a network of the resources at your disposal at any given point in time.

Now knowledge is not power. Network is Power. A knowledgeable man without the right network is not powerful.

People like to explain Power in the light of “what you carry”. I like to explain Power based on what “responds” to what you carry.

Now this may look like the same but they are not the same. Why? Because power is not potential. It is kinetic in nature.

Power is not scalar. It is a vector quantity. Power is reactive in nature. It is the end product of a process.

Now think of any powerful man you know. Just think of any. You don’t only think of him in the light of what he carries or in the light of his level of wealth. You think of him based on who he knows, who he sits with, who rallies round him and who listens to him when he speaks.

There are wealthy men who are lonely. There are wealthy men who are not respected and whose wealth cannot pull strings for them. So therefore wealth in itself is not power.

But when you consider Power from the angle of Network, then it makes much more sense. When things obey you. When people obey you and are willing to rally round you at any given point in time, then you are powerful.