I read a while ago Kevin Dutton's "The Wisdom of Psychopaths" and really liked to understand more about the features of their personalities. There are people who have psychopathic tendencies and yet don't commit crimes, these "sociopaths" manage to scale the success ladder because of their lack of emotional engagement, their ruthlessness, focus and tenacity.
I think every one could benefit with his study and this is why I selected the book's best ideas on how to translate psychopathy into "Functional Psychopathy":
-The triumvirate of personality traits: the
stratospheric self-esteem of narcissism; the fearlessness, ruthlessness,
impulsivity and thrill-seeking, the deceitfulness and exploitativeness of
Machiavelianism – can actually do pretty well for themselves
-Narcissism is associated with self-promotion and ostentatious displays
of success; and Machiavelianism, with being socially manipulative.
-Creativity, good strategic thinking and excellent communication skills
-The problem with a lot of people is that what they think is a virtue
is actually a vice in disguise. It’s much easier to convince yourself that
you’re reasonable and civilized, than soft and weak, isn’t it?
-Ninety-nine percent of things people worry about never
happen. So what’s the point? “I think the problem is that people spend so much
time worrying about what might happen, what might go wrong, that they
completely lose sight of the present. They completely overlook the fact that, actually,
right now, everything’s perfectly fine.”
-Next time you’re in a situation where you’re scared, just think:
“Imagine I didn’t feel this way, What would I do then?” And then just do it
anyway. Good advice – if you’ve got the balls to take it.
-You cannot allow any members of your brain’s emotional
executive committee to knock on the door of the decision-making boardroom, let
alone take the seat at the table. Ruthlessly, remorselessly, relentlessly, you
have to stay in the present.
-YOU CAN’T LET WHAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY AFFECT WHAT HAPPENS TODAY. IF
YOU DO, YOU’LL GO UNDER IN NO TIME.
-Focus on the job in hand and when that job is finished, just walk away
and forget it ever happened
-Psychopaths never procrastinate
