What does the term “Machiavellian” mean to you?
Deeply embedded within the lexicon of the political and business spheres of Western culture, the term is inexorably synonymous with politically cunning, unscrupulousness, and opportunistic ruthlessness in the insatiable quest and maintenance of power.
The term is drawn from “The Prince,” the most popular work authored by Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli, an Italian political philosopher, writer, and civil servant. “The Prince” theorizes a collection of political strategies an ambitious prince can apply to seize and maintain power.
Written in 1513 and published in 1532, five years after Machiavelli’s death, “The Prince” is lauded by many as the definitive treatise on political power and control. Machiavelli justified absolute rule by power, not law, espousing that the greatest moral good lay in the stability of the state and the Prince should apply any means necessary to acquire and secure that stability, including deceit. Interestingly, in the preface Machiavelli apologizes for only being able to offer his humble manual on statesmanship to his Prince rather than riches of gold and silver. This is a gesture of penultimate finesse on Machiavelli’s part as he understands that ideas are ultimately much more valuable than material goods, no matter how precious.
“The Prince” was written in a markedly different political climate than today, yet even then its release sparked controversy and was condemned by Pope Clement VIII. At least in a western world predominated by citizen democracy, the brutal tactics Machiavelli promoted are not as practical as they once were, yet still influential in spirit, if not in letter.
However, it has been within the clandestine cloisters of Wall Street that Machiavelli’s tenets have been most ardently embraced. Today, many financial corporations in a myriad of ways discreetly sanction Machiavellian-type means to generate as much money as possible which in turn creates power, control, and ultimately market share.
Money, after all, is one manifestation of power.
Yet, when the individual employee gets too caught up in this insatiable desire to make money at any cost, it can have a profoundly negative effect on that employee’s self-esteem, sense of well-being, and quality of life. And impact the inner workings of the company and ultimately jeopardize its mission.
Brokerage firms and financial institutions who employ ruthless tactics are probably not about to undergo comprehensive reforms regardless of the current administration’s intentions, but the individuals who work for them have it within their own control to change their work and personal lives for the better nevertheless. This is why the Wall Street Psychologist’s Gyroscope is important. It provides the conduit for change and safety for the modern financial professional toiling in the money-mad world of the Street.