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The Way of the Shadow – A New Philosophy of Success
March 19, 2009
When you live to please others, you lose the most valuable thing in the world: your authentic self.
When you live to please yourself, you attract the friends, money, power and love from only the sources that make YOU most happy. And in so doing, you gain the freedom to help whomever you wish, or… help no one at all.
Your choice. Because power is about having options – not needing any one particular thing.
If you’ve known me only in the last couple years, you don’t know “The Old Greg.” He was quite different. Even though he didn’t have the knowledge or resources I have today, he had this odd mental tic that automatically hotwired him for success.
This was a more profitable, better connected Greg – more resilient with money (bank account went to zero four times and popped right back up again) and got more girls in a year than most schlubs in ten (according to actual social statistics I have read.)
This was a Greg who got in, got the job done, got out – calm, cold, methodical, and statistical. A mercenary who always grabbed straight for the cash, owing loyalty to no one but himself and one or two close confidants.
And if you got in his way, you had better be prepared for a knife-fight to the death. Because the Old Greg, bloodied and beaten, would only stop coming at ya if you crushed him. Completely.
Lately I’ve felt waves of The Old Greg wash back over me. He’s been gone for over 3 years now. And I’ve missed him. It’s time he return once and for all.
You might be tempted to think all of this is hyperbole. That it’s all a bunch of word-play crafted to make a mundane subject like “success philosophy” sound more interesting.
Sure, you could think that. But you’d be wrong.
What I’m talking about here is a mindset for success few people in this world possess. There’s a reason I used the picture of the camouflaged man up there at the beginning. His name is “Shadow” and he’s a symbol that represents the top elite in any business industry or human endeavor.
That means if YOU’RE a scientist, Shadow is the Nobel Prize winning researcher who’s smarter than you, faster than you, and somehow always seems to know what you’re up to before you go public with your latest discovery.
If you’re an athlete, Shadow is that guy who makes all the last second winning plays, scoring more in a season than most players score their whole career.
He’s a damn spy, warrior, and intellectual all rolled into one.
And you know what really pisses you off about the guy? He’s actually likable. He never brags or gloats. He downplays his successes, and never gets excited. Your wife kinda has a thing for him and, damnit, if it wasn’t for the constant nagging reminder he’s so much better than you, you’d secretly kinda like to be his friend yourself.
What’s the hell is this guy’s secret?
He’s living The Way of the Shadow – which, if ya ask me, is every bit as important of a universal law as “The Secret.” Maybe the two are even related.
Where “The Secret” has us consuming our minds with and pursuing only our true desires, ignoring all else, The Way of the Shadow tells us how to ensure those successes not only happen, but become a way of life.
Core to this new way of thinking is something I call the “shoot and move” mindset. It’s our primary guide through a world invested with con-artists, losers, greed, and outright thieves.
Think of it like this:
Imagine you’re a sniper hiding out in the weeds. Your mission: pick off the rebel leader of some shitty Banana Republic. You’ve slept in muck for 3 days lying in wait for El Presidente’s motorcade to pass. And finally… here it comes. You take a breath. Hold it. And steady your aim.
At this point, what is the EXACT WRONG thing to do?
Option A) Stand up and yell “Eat lead!!” before firing off a bunch of wild shots
or…
Option B) Get the bastard in your crosshairs, blow him away, quietly pack up and get the hell outta dodge
The answer here is obvious. But in real life… when you’re at the office meeting about to give your big presentation to investors… it’s not so cut-and-dry anymore.
The “shoot and move” philosophy means to never assume automatic success, no matter how much preparation you’ve done or how sure you are it’s shooting fish in a barrel.
Because life always has an ironic way of biting your ass when you least expect it.
Now this does NOT mean you do the opposite and assume failure. No. What you do is assume NOTHING AT ALL. Do not think in terms of failure and success. Simply PERFORM, do the very best you can. If you have true expertise, it will shine through and win the day. The consequences will play out as they should. They are not for you to judge. And once you’ve performed… sit back down, get outta there, or whatever else you have to do.
Everybody will know you as the guy who speaks softly but carries a big stick.
Another core principle of The Way of the Shadow is you can’t be a one-hit wonder. Sure, you might’ve been hot shit 20 years ago but what have you done for us lately?
Even if you’re world-class you can’t rest on past laurels forever. Sooner or later you’ll be challenged and if you’re not up to it, some new guy will come along, water down your legacy till there’s nothing left, and steal what fragments remain right from under you. Your legend can’t last forever unless you have a string of extraordinary successes.
So that means if you want greatness, you can never rest. You always have to be planning, producing, maneuvering. While everyone else is out celebrating the latest kill, you’re back at the lair hunkered down in a cozy hideaway plotting the next move.
Why? Because you’re a driver – the true engine of success. You’re the architect and backbone of the entire operation of accomplishing your dreams. No one else is going to do it for you.
The only difference between you and the people enjoying everything you want out of life RIGHT NOW is… they did something about it and you didn’t.
Or at least you haven’t yet. Now is your time!
Because it’s not a question of IF you’re going to die, but WHEN. There’s no point in living life with anything but total authenticity. That means sitting down, figuring out what it is you REALLY want in life, and then going out and making it happen, whatever the cost. For some people (me included) this means holding some beliefs, opinions, and desires that are not socially acceptable by a lot of people. Family included.
There’s a lot of talk out there about this concept of “going against the grain” – lots of teachers are heavy on platitudes but light on specific examples from real life. Maybe they’re afraid of what the backlash would be. Or maybe… they don’t practice what they preach.
So here, specifically to encourage you to find your own, are a few examples of what living an authentic life means to me personally after I took the time to really THINK about what I wanted:
- I’m a very clean and organized person and would never consider living with anyone who settled for anything less than a perfectly tuned atmosphere. I accomplish it every day on my own so why should I ever downgrade in the presence of a woman?
- I hate pets of any kind – yes, even fish.
- Beauty may only be skin deep, but I’m only in my 20′s and early 30′s for so long – you can bet I’ll take advantage of the opportunities I get. If I wanna talk to someone smart, I call Jason. If I want someone who looks good in a bikini, that’s another matter entirely. Sure, I’ll go for the best of both worlds, but in lieu of that, sometimes a guy just needs an idle distraction.
- I have nothing against people who marry, but for my own life, the idea of marriage goes against my fundamental beliefs of how the universe works (everything is temporary, nothing is permanent, people change) The only situation in which I’d ever marry is if she were foreign and the only way she could leave her country is on a K-1 fiance visa. With American girls, there’s no need to tie up my finances and property with them.
- I only want to hang out with people who are advancing society in some way. “Beer n’ bowling” or the club scene every Saturday night simply does not interest me.
I never said this was easy. Living The Way of the Shadow to its fullest extent is hardcore. It’s a kick-down-their-door, shotgun-blast ‘em-in-the-chest, and-make-out-with-the-loot-before-anyone-ever-realizes-what-happened way of living. No mercy, no talking. Just straight action. (yes, the wrong people WILL feel uncomfortable around you. Realize that’s OK)
And after it’s all over with… after you’ve reaped your successes… you never speak or think much of it again. You go riding off into the sunset in search of “What’s Next”
That last part’s important; more KEY to this whole mindset than you can possibly imagine.
I’ve seen plenty of men in business get a big head. Mr Boss Man. One big success and all of a sudden they think they’re invincible.
They go out and try to be the next Steve Jobs wannabe visionary and guess what happens?
Yup. Fall flat on their face, forced to crawl back to a familiar teet to suck on. They wanted to be a big shot, but ignored The Way. And the universe responded by handing their ass back to them.
Compare that to how Richard Branson starts new businesses. There’s a reason he calls all his companies “Virgin” this and “Virgin” that. It’s because whenever he enters a new business venture, he acknowledges he has absolutely ZERO experience in it and wants to constantly remind himself that even though he’s a billionaire, he can sieze up and fall over dead just like anyone else.
Hubris never pays. I don’t know what it is, but for some reason the Universe poops on those who play God.
Maybe I’m leaving too much up for interpretation here. Maybe what you really need are…
10 Ways To Apply The Way of the Shadow In Your Life
- In business, don’t talk about a big sale until you have actually signed the contract, cashed the check, and can physically SEE the money… and even then, its best to keep quiet.
- Never let anyone know exactly HOW successful you are. Subtly communicate enough to assure them you know what you’re doing and they’re wise to work with you. No more.
- When seeking revenge, serve it up COLD – never in the heat of a moment. Strike your enemy’s weak underbelly hard and fast, then leave… never say a word to anyone about your involvement. Personal satisfaction must be the only reward. If it’s not, then don’t seek revenge.
- If someone compliments you, always downplay your success: “Yeah, we did all right, but competition was fierce.” Maintain a neutral stance on shortcomings: “That isn’t my strong suit but I can hold my own.”
- When you’ve got a job to do, get in there, do it, and get the hell out. Don’t become emotionally attached to a “certain” way of doing it or worry about how you look while doing it. Visualize it like this: If you’ve got to kill a guy and you know he’s just around the corner, then pop around the corner while he takes a sip of coffee, put a silenced bullet through his face (ensure the kill, no accidents), calmly turn back around the corner and briskly walk out, careful not to draw attention to yourself. I’ve witnessed many failures of a friend of mine because there were many things in life he had become emotionally attached to doing a certain way. In the hitman example I just mentioned, it would be my friend who would “prefer” to kill the guy by choking him, which would lead to making a mistake somehow and allowing the would-be victim to alert help. All this trouble when he could’ve just shot the dude.
- When dealing with a loser business man, don’t fall for his illusions. He talks big and gets real excited, but don’t you dare believe it. Size him up for what he is, take what CASH you can get with minimal effort (never equity), then cut him off and never mess with him again. It’s not your job to save the world – you’ll have a much higher quality life using your skills to help winners win more often, than struggling to elevate losers.
- After dealing with a series of flakes and disappointments in life, even the optimist eventually grows grizzled and jaded. When even the hottest prospects can rouse only a “whatever” out of you delivered with a distant glance, ironically, THIS is when you’ll have a success. The big lesson is: the more attached you are to the outcome the more you will LOSE. The more detached you become, the more you WIN. Bizarre but true. My friend Jason and I still have a hard time wrestling with this one.
- Always remain quiet when someone is publicly praising you. Don’t add anything – let THEIR words speak to the group and the effect will be profound.
- Never lose your mind over a woman. And especially never betray your friends for a woman. No matter how much she comes on to you, no matter how crazy she seems for you, just remember: you’ve known them longer than you’ve known her. Even the hottest, sexiest, most educated woman in the world can go psycho-bat-shit on your life in 3 seconds flat. And if not that, consider this: women, especially the exceptionally beautiful ones, have a certain way of proving quite fickle when you least expect it… and often when you need them the most.
- Make people earn your trust. Never take it for granted that anyone would help you or be there for you in a time of need. If you are perceived as a person of exceptional value, a lot of business men, women, and others you don’t even know will act like your best friend in the whole world… But don’t you dare fall for it. What they really want is to bask in your glow, while it lasts. The second any tough times hit, they’ll be the first ones jumping ship to the next shiny object that catches their eye.
Special Bonus: 5 Guys Who “Shoot & Move”
#1. James Bond - Sean Connery be damned, Daniel Craig IS James Bond.
Watch Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace to see the Shadow mindset in action.
#2. R. Lee Ermey - “The Siege of Firebase Gloria” is a must-see. The best “Shadow” line from that film is when Vietnamese villagers tell Ermey “No Viet Cong here. Only simple fishermen.”
He responds under his breath: “Yeah, I’ll bet.” Proceeds with caution. When the “fishermen”
whip out their AK-47′s, Ermey’s team guns ‘em down with their M16′s. He was safe, not sorry.
#3. Lee Van Cleef - In “Death Rides A Horse”, Van Cleef shaves with a knife as he educates a young man hell bent on seeking revenge. No matter how skilled the loudmouth youngster is, Van Cleef is one better.
But he never boasts. Only acts.
#4. Clint Eastwood - The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly. Never gets too excited about anything.
Always keeps his cool no matter what.
And of course, #5. Shadow himself - I mean, c’mon, just look at ‘em! 
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Tags: authentic self, authenticity, clint eastwood, extreme measures, hardcore, james bond, lee ermey, lee van cleef, ruthless, shadow, success, the secret, way of the shadowTopics: Philosophy | 2 Comments »
It’s awesome to see you finally found time to post the Shadow philosophy.
Like you said in the post, the Shadow mindset leads to success, but if you take it to its full extreme, you never take time to enjoy any of your victories because the second you achieve success, you’re already planning your next move. Pure discipline and focus. No premature gloating.
Calm and rational at all times.
If our country would’ve known this principle, they wouldn’t have been throwing such a huge inaugural celebration for Obama, considering he hadn’t done anything yet. Now they’re starting to see he’s part of the same group we’ve had running Washington for ages now.
I remember watching Late Night with Conan O’Brien, and they kept running skits, praising Obama. Their graphic artist, Pierre Bernard, a skinny nerdy guy, now felt he could “Do anything.” Obama had inspired him. I thought, “What the hell?”
We both knew he was being marketed and prepared to be the face for some agenda. It was absolute madness, seeing the magazine covers, where he’s treated like some sort of coming messiah. And he hadn’t DONE ANYTHING! I still can’t believe people can’t see through this stuff.
We’ve already learned this principle a long time ago, dealing with those business losers you mentioned. You can’t celebrate anything until you’re actually on the podium, holding the gold trophy. Even then, you should stand there with eyes squinted like Clint Eastwood, watching everyone around you, and quietly planning your next move.
I love those pictures. They all have the same look in their eyes. It’s an alert, observant, I know what’s going on, “You can’t bullshit me”, look. Maybe it should be called the “Shadow” look.
Like R. Lee Ermey’s, “Yeah, I bet.” They’re the kind of guys who would give you very real life, practical advice. Like we’re always talking about, there’s how people say and think things work, then there’s how things REALLY work. The guys you featured are all guys who know how things really go down in the real world.
Thank you Jason. Good comment. Today I updated the post to add 2 more good tips for living the Shadow lifestyle. Reading me your chapter on trust reminded me of a couple things I’d forgotten about.