empowering darkworker perspective on careers

[Plato]

Are darkworkers motivated by money in their careers?

One might think so but focussing on money is as big a trap to a darkworker as it is for lightworkers. What are the problems faced by a darkworker with a money oriented mindset?

Money is a shallow and empty goal, and it can never be a genuine end in itself. This makes it a poor form of motivation to anyone remotely conscious. The natural consequence is that work becomes a chore. Settling for work that feels like a chore will actually de-polarize you... life will begin to seem meaningless, and the TV seems so much more appealing than the daily grind.

Secondly, to focus on money actually an inefficient way to get it, even for a darkworker. It's much more of a limitation to other people, because routes like mass exploitation through scams, and criminal activity are out of bounds to non-darkworkers. Still, the real problem with focusing on money for a darkworker is that it prevents you from focussing on what you should be: the source of money.

For a lightworker the source of money is value. However, for a darkworker the true source of money is power. When you create genuine value for other people, money will flow into your life as a natural by-product. In a similar way money follows power.

This is an interesting reframe that fits beautifully into the darkworker mindset. It frees up a darkworker's creativity. Why? Because now we have a real question. "How can I increase my power over people of influence?" There are answers to that question.

Asking our minds to generate money is a trick question because you first have to find another question before you can answer. That quesion is either "How can I offer people value?" or "How can I increase my power?" Both work.

It is also highly motivating and fulfilling because you're focussed on the end in itself. As we know, thinking about stuff we like generates the emotions we want.

[Plato]

How To Increase Power

Increase your ability to generate value for others. edit: This should be framed in your mind along the lines of "Have something other people need" (Value and power overlap in many areas but it's important to focus on the power version of the same objective to avoid mixing polarities).

Befriend people of influence. The more contacts and the better the contacts, the more opportunities will come your way.

Find ways to make others give authority to you. The sky is the limit once you have followers who have given up their critical thinking. A blog is a fantastic means to achieve this.

Make people dependent on you. The more the better. Aim to create situations where it is in others' interest that you are well. This can be in the form of an irreplaceable talent, or that you are so entwined in their life that like creeping ivy, remove you and the wall will collapse with it.

Tell people what they need to hear. Be careful about revealing your own intentions... it can create resistance and mistrust.

Win the trust of others. Alcohol is your friend. They will tell you things that will prove useful later.

In a competition, seem to perform badly on purpose when it doesn't matter. You can lull the competition into a false sense of security and strike at the critical moment. They will panic and lose their cool.

Resist showing signs of caring about something. If people know your weakness they can use it against you. Fake caring about something you actually don't to create a smoke screen and other benefits e.g. a desirable reputation.

Enjoy friends for what they can offer but don't rely on them. People who fear or need you are much more trustworthy.

Always try to be ahead of the competition in terms of knowledge. Be very aware of trends and explore ways to use them to your advantage.

The Categorical Imperative:

Keep fit, work on your self discipline and learn as much as is feasible. This will allow you to take advantage of as many situations as possible.

[Andrew Gubb]

Awesome post Plato. Tell me, will you still be sharing this stuff if and when you polarise to evil? I'll miss you >.<

[Asmoday]

I couldn't agree more -- at least I can say it holds true for most Darkworkers I know. Money is easy and most of us, myself included, have income such that we no longer have to work. However, we take employment positions because the position affords us access to power or knowledge of some kind. Its what lead me to the position I last held for a few years. The whole game changes on this level too -- its ironic how, once the leverage is gone, the system treats you completely differently. I think a lot of people, just by practicing a mentality of "I don't NEED this job" and openly being themselves, could probably land promotions or more. Its all about loosing the scarcity mindset.

[vMike]

Good stuff there Plato.

[Plato]

Originally Posted by Asmoday

Its all about loosing the scarcity mindset.

The opposite.

Darkwork is the scarcity mentality taken to the point where you're driven to action. Have you still not figured this out?

You should stop referring to what you mean as darkworking, because it's not what the rest of us are talking about when we use the word.

[Plato]

Originally Posted by Andrew Gubb

Awesome post Plato. Tell me, will you still be sharing this stuff if and when you polarise to evil? I'll miss you >.<

I suppose not. Well, thanks Andrew!

[Asmoday]

Originally Posted by Plato

The opposite.

Darkwork is the scarcity mentality taken to the point where you're driven to action. Have you still not figured this out?

You should stop referring to what you mean as darkworking, because it's not what the rest of us are talking about when we use the word.

I see...well...

Fear and Scarcity are the beginnings of the path, Plato.

Lets walk this through for a second. The Darkworker begins by honoring himself or herself, dedicating theirself to their own advancement. At first they realise its "me against the world" and feel limited, vulnerable. What then, must he or she invariably do?

Acquire power and mastry in all its forms.

They go out of their living rooms, put the Starwars books down (which, don't get me wrong, I adore the Sith as much as the next guy, but its just a made up STORY, it hits on some truths, but that's the end of it -- it does not describe the actual path) -- and achieve, financially, inter-personally, in relationships, and so on.

As this achievement builds, fear subsides, scarcity subsides. The Darkworker begins to realise that they will always be able to grab more, take more, do more, and loose it all, and gain it back without a scratch. There will always be more sheep, more power vacuums. The world opens up, as an expression of Self, and becomes one big gigantic oyster. Its a playground, and the Darkworker is King of the Hill.

Fear and Scarcity aren't the mark of Darkworking, they're the mark of an ego-bruised youth that hasn't achieved anything yet, and certainly hasn't realised their own power.

Its amateurish at best, but it sure sounds pretty.

Its the cry of the Weakened Wolf, not the Lion's Roar.

If you want to go howling at the moon and continue to make things up, fine by me. Sell these guys on it if you like, its just their life that's wasting.

The path isn't New. Steve inherited the concepts. Its been passed down, shaped, refined, and explored in a lot of forms for a long, long time. And, I've been at it for a lot longer than you. I'm more than happy to demonstrate.

After all, there's nothing wrong with new ideas -- unless they're idiotic and not well thought through.

But, you're eloquent, no one's denying that.

And, on that note, I'll use the term Darkworking however I damn well please.

[Plato]

Polarity is a theory of motivation.

Who can get more done, the man fighting for his life, or the man sitting in his couch feeling proud of himself?

Unrivalled intensity, focus, and the ability to handle pain is the power of darkworking.

What you're talking about is an over-inflated ego, not polarity.

[vMike]

Both approaches are a part of the path. A darkworker would only fight for his life at the beginning of his road.
Once a certain level of security is achieved in all areas: financial stability, relationships, health, power etc, you would find yourself stuck as the dangers fade and some preliminary success is achieved. Confidence grows and comfort comes expelling the fears. Most people don't go past that point.

That's when higher levels of motivation are recruited to empower the man as he realizes his true potential and the powers sleeping within him. It's not an easy step to take, but vital to continue the growth along the path.

[Plato]

Actually the more powerful you become the more resistance comes into your life. Things get harder, not easier.

The point however, is that a conscious darkworker has chosen that struggle. The fear is pleasurable, in it's own special way.