Fat, lazy, vulgar, foolish, half-assed, heartless, and so many more that I don’t care to remember are just a few of the things I have been called throughout my career and lifetime (family… gotta love ’em).

I guess the one that probably stung the most was being called a fraud. Granted, not much offense should’ve been taken as the government called me this word, eventually even charging me with that (awe-shucks).

Aside from that, not much offense has ever been taken when someone has called me a “con artist” or “con man”. Why should I? I mean, ask any good salesman (a true salesman/woman), and the social psychology teaches you to detach yourself from public opinion and how you’re viewed in order to accomplish the objective at hand: close the effing deal.

Therein, countless training and research shows the mindset you must adopt, the knowledge you must obtain, and the confidence (game/swagger) you need, in order to be successful, con artist or not.

Be that as it may, being labeled as a con artist put me in a very distinct class of shadowy figures that have all come before me, leveraging the power of a very critical life skill towards success, and applying it towards an idea and ambition, notwithstanding a few legal challenges.

You see, there seems to be a prevalent theme among those that have been accused of such a crime, that we tend to be very deceitful. And while I’m not going to open that one up for debate, I will say (and for this article), we (con men) also tend to be extremely good at convincing others to see our vantage point of view.

Unfortunately for us con artists, we still came up rather short in convincing a jury to understand this philosophy. Tisk tisk.

Con artists believe in their ideas with conviction (bad word) and ultimately would like others to listen and adopt that ideology, by way of their influence.

It is undeniable that we’re going to want things in life. We want the job. We want money. We want the relationship. We want respect. We want attention. We want you to listen. Most of all, we just want the opportunity (as any person would).

Naturally, you should want to use every possible resource that makes itself available to you to attain that opportunity. If you’re like me though (unfortunately), you may fall into a certain category (felony) that will try and limit all of those opportunities.

And while I’m not condoning you to go commit sordid acts to separate financial institutions from their money, I am appealing to your better senses to awaken your god-given talent hibernating inside you as a regular person, thus unleashing it on the world for you to increase your chances for success tenfold, as nothing is impossible.

This is all done by using something that I, and many others before me have come to use called the Power of Persuasion.

What is Persuasion and What is Persuasion Used For?

Users (need not necessarily be con artists) applying persuasion canhelp someone formulate opinions on an idea, product, service, or even an idea, in order to yield a most favorable outcome.

It is applied in many different fields (sales, politics, business) for many different purposes, all to overcome many different objections.

These techniques and strategies also give one the ability to convince others to do, act, or even believe things they normally would not entertain. And therein lies the danger with this power, as many associate it with something bad used for evil purposes (or to label someone inappropriately as con artists).

Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities….

– Voltaire

Is there a difference between being persuasive versus being manipulative?

Absolutely. One must differentiate between being persuasive (which I’m advocating), and being manipulative (which I am not), with the difference lying in its intended benefit. There’s a thin line between the two, and when that line gets blurred, there are dire consequences.

Yes, maybe I am the pot calling the kettle black, but after some clarification from all too eager authorities assisting me in where to draw the line and make that distinction, I believe I’m highly qualified in what I’m talking about (con artist or not).

Persuasion is about injecting your ideas and thoughts into something or someone, without being overly aggressive or pushy, thus turning someone off.

Manipulation is about control. It’s a hybrid version of persuasion, but with malicious intentions based on deception and not being forthright, ultimately leaving the recipient in danger or peril. Most people unfortunately feel that they are the same, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Everybody has the power to be persuasive. For that matter, everybody has the power in them to be a fraud. Like anything in life, it’s tied to the person’s intention.

Many believe that to be persuasive, you must’ve been born with it (and this is slightly true). With that lies the beauty to it all, as you were born with it.

Anyone can do this.

Since you were a baby you’ve had it. The most brilliant con artists of all time have been children. Easily able to dictate the narrative to get whatever it is they so desire. Think about it. The only problem is due to a lack of sheer imagination and brain power, desires are set rather low:

• Milk
• Hug
• Toy
• Attention
• Change my shit diaper

The fact is, everyone, and I mean EVERYONE who exists on this here earth, has the qualities and attributes in them to be persuasive.

It is sort of a necessary life skill, but like anything you need to practice it for you to get better at it. They should’ve taught this in school (outside of psychology), but they don’t.

There is a way to do this all, as it is an art (and not a science). Again, you have been doing it since you were a child, so it should come off natural (as long as you do not overthink things and allow all the shit society and the world has brainwashed you into feeling).

As a result, many people are left unprepared in this world, thus rendering them followers where they adopt the beliefs and opinions of whomever at any moment in time. Noted persons of history who have used The Power of Persuasion:

• MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.
• BERNIE MADOFF
• ARISTOTLE
• DON KING
• ANTHONY ROBBINS
• ADOLF HITLER
• STEVE JOBS
• JOHN F. KENNEDY

As you can see from this distinguished list of authority figures, persuasion can be used by anybody for good or sinister purposes. And although these figures may have used their power for different intentions, they all seem to share certain common traits amongst them.

Businessman, Author, Commander in Chief, and Twitter Troll Donald Trump has used Persuasion throughout his illustrious career to get the results he has desired.

Master Communicators

They use everything at their disposal to communicate their intended message to the audience. They also understand that it is not so much what you say, but how you say it.

They’re deeply aware of their body language (gestures, facial expressions, and mannerisms). The tone and pace of their voice, and even the ability to curse (yes, it’s a form of art they understand) when appropriate, all affect how they’re perceived in getting their point across. Another term for all of this is called social proof.

Bonus tip: Smile.

I always, always say this. Always. But why though? Because the last thing you want to come off looking like is a mean, angry felon (if and where applicable). Nevertheless, you want to look approachable and friendly, not like you’re going to shank them in the lunch line.

Likeability

You may not agree with this person’s worldview or philosophy, yet ironically find yourself cheering for them, and secretly liking them (con men or not). They all have a polarizing quality about them, and despite ulterior motives, you may even come to “love to hate” the person. Either way, mission accomplished.

Charm

They can make you feel as if you’re the only one in this world and everything you say matters (easily putting you at ease). It’s done by… (are you ready for this) listening. The passion displayed toward their cause (and story) easily gains your attention, respect, and even attraction. These people have a high command for what they believe in and it easily endears your loyalty and devotion with the admiration you have for them.

Bonus tip: Use their name.

When addressing someone, you must make them feel special, and that’s through being personalized. It gets the message across and shows that you’re paying attention. After all, it’s the little things that make a lasting impression.

A Look

Call it style, or a certain way they carry themselves, but the consensus is they all have a presence. As displayed by persons on the above-referenced list, you don’t need to be muscular, or be over six feet tall, but they all have a way of displaying strength and commanding the room.

Confidence

What we discussed at the very beginning of this post. You must develop this. You must be a confidence man. Because you can’t have everything else without having belief in yourself. Doesn’t matter what your intention is. It’s about having a comfortable attitude about your skills and abilities.

It means that you accept and trust yourself, thus have a sense of control in your life. You also know your strengths and your weaknesses (which when recognized is also a strength). And for people to firmly trust and securely believe you (have confidence in you), you must have that in yourself first.

There are certain substeps you must be aware of to harness persuasion. Although your reading of this post (and I applaud your taste in reading this site) is a step in the right direction, this is merely an introduction to this vital skill. You must still continue to educate yourself further to be polished at it.

Great resources to check out so you expand your education on the magical power of Persuasion would be…

1. How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
2. The Art of Seduction by Robert Greene
3. How to Win an Argument: An Ancient Guide to the Art of Persuasion by Cicero
4. Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert B. Cialdini
5. Trust Me, I’m Lying by Ryan Holiday

Certain words and phrases oftentimes using Persuasion would be…

for instance, for example, in other words, furthermore, on the other hand, with this in mind, I’m sure you can see that, regardless, nevertheless, I ask you to think about, in conclusion….

The Conclusion and Why You Should Practice Being Persuasive

Take it from a persuasive conman: in order to get whatever it is that you desire. (Did you realize what I just did there) It’s all about using suggestions to influence the results.

Doesn’t matter what area of your life you want to apply it to; sales, relationships, job opportunities, elections, whatever. But to tap into and access this extraordinary ability, you must practice it daily to get good at it and create the results you want.

Hopefully, this little beginner’s guide to persuasion gave you pause to understand the true effect it has on the direction and course of not only your life but on others as well. Use it wisely. Educate yourself on your situation, because nobody is going to do it for you. Stay well and out of tro