Guard Your Reputation

This is the law of power number 5, So Much Depends On Reputation - Guard It With Your Life. This was easy to understand, because reputation similar with what people thinking about your top and best performance. Yet, it was hard to maintain from time to time. So people put their life to maintain their reputation.

Here is relevance story of transgression of the Law:

During China’s War of the Three Kingdoms (A.D.207-265), General Liang was able to fool his rival Sima Yi simply by letting his track record for being an undefeated leader in battle do the work for him. Liang’s troops were far outnumbered by Sima Yi’s, yet he devised a clever last resort plan. Liang donned a Taoist robe and played the lute upon the wall of the city he was defending. His soldiers opened the gates and hid. When Sima Yi’s troops advanced upon the unguarded city, Yi recognized his opponent sitting alone upon the wall. Fearing a trap, Sima Yi called his soldiers to retreat.

Compare with this story of observance of the Law:

P.T. Barnum was an expert at destroying his competitor’s reputation. He published letters in newspapers, warning the public against buying his opponent’s stock. He was a master at poking mockery at the tactics of his rivals.

Practically, this Law of Power -5 tell us to conduct such these:

Sow doubt and spread rumors about your rival. Even if they vehemently deny it, people will still be wondering why they are so defensive.
Use humor or gentle mockery at your rival’s expense.
A solid reputation increases your presence and exaggerates your strengths without your having to spend much energy.
Never appear desperate in your self-defense against the slander of others.
Be careful not to go too far in attacking another’s reputation, it draws more attention to your vengefulness than to the person you are slandering. Use subtler tactics like satire and ridicule.

Read the list of 48 laws of power, here.