By: Joe Byerly
Have you ever had a conversation with someone and walked away much smarter?
This happened to me a few weeks ago. I had an opportunity to spend an hour talking to author Robert Greene. We discussed leadership, the dark side of human nature, mentorship, the importance of writing, and leaders worth studying.
I originally planned to feature the interview in a single post, however his insights were so great that we turned the interview into a week long series. Starting tomorrow I will post a new question and answer every day this week.
Why you should read the entire series
He’s the author of The New York Times Best Sellers 48 Laws of Power, the Art of Seduction, The 33 Strategies for War, and Mastery. He also coauthored The 50th Law with rapper 50 Cent.
In his latest book The Laws of Human Nature he examines people’s drives and motivations. Drawing from ideas and examples of Pericles, Queen Elizabeth I, Martin Luther King Jr, and many others, Greene teaches us how to detach ourselves from our own emotions and master self-control.
He’s not only a writer. He’s had to practice and experience his books in boardrooms across the country. He’s served on the board for a publicly traded company and he consults CEOs, organizations, and political leaders.
I’m also always looking for successful mentor/protege relationships and his relationship with Ryan Holiday is a great example! Ryan started working for Robert as a research assistant when he was in college. Ryan went on to also become a New York Times Best Selling author himself, writing Ego is the Enemy and the Obstacle is the Way. We will talk about the importance of mentoring and being a protege later this week.
Check back Monday as we discuss why understanding human nature is important for military leaders!
