When you force the other person to act, you are the one in control. It is always better to make your opponent come to you, abandoning his own plans in the process. Lure him with fabulous gains—then attack. You hold the cards.

1. Law #8: Make Other People Come To
You Use Bait If Necessary
When you force the other person to
act, you are the one in control. It is
always better to make your opponent
come to you, abandoning his own
plans in the process. Lure him with
fabulous gains—then attack. You hold
the cards.
Tariq Al-Basha @ albashatariq@outlook.com 1

2. ▪ Charles Maurice de Talleyrand, the foreign minister to
Napoleon can attest to this caveat.
▪ Talleyrand was a mastermind manipulator who was
behind the dramatic escape of Napoleon after his exile
to the island of Elba.
▪ Talleyrand knew that Napoleon’s arrogance was his
weakness and he played to that weakness like a
strategic poker player.
▪ Not showing his true feelings toward the emperor,
Talleyrand bided his time, made the right connections,
which helped create the most elaborate scheme to
dethrone one of the world’s most infamous people,
Napolean Bonaparte.
Tariq Al-Basha @ albashatariq@outlook.com 2

3. Tariq Al-Basha @ albashatariq@outlook.com 3

4. Tariq Al-Basha @ albashatariq@outlook.com 4
Keep others reacting to your
moves, keep them on the
defensive.
Play to their ineffectiveness
to stay calm.

5. Tariq Al-Basha @ albashatariq@outlook.com 5
Don’t waste a lot of energy
trying to make your point,
bide your time like Talleyrand.
Make the other person come
to you, set the bait.

6. Tariq Al-Basha @ albashatariq@outlook.com 6
Know your opponents
weakness.
He who has control has the
power.

7. Tariq Al-Basha @ albashatariq@outlook.com 7
Never be influenced through
your anger.
Aggressive people are never
in control.

8. ▪ During the Russo-Japanese war of 1904-1905, Japan
was able to plant false information that made the
Russian fleet go 6000 miles out of the way and
forced the Russians into hostile territory.
▪ The Russian seamen were weak and exhausted by
the journey and although Japan had the weaker
naval militia, they planted the bait which gave them
the upper-hand on the Russians and needless to say
the Japanese crushed the Russians because of their
reaction to the rumor.
Tariq Al-Basha @ albashatariq@outlook.com 8

9. Tariq Al-Basha @ albashatariq@outlook.com 9
It is a wise thing to lure your opponent on hostile
ground; it is a subtle way to put him on the defensive.
Your opponent will be nervous which will cause him
to rush his actions and make mistakes.
You want to create the illusion that your opponent is
in control of the situation.
Oftentimes, your opponent’s greed, desires and
emotions will be their great motivator which means
that they can be easily led around and/or defeated.
Getting people to dig their own graves forces their
hand and makes you appear powerful and demand
respect.

10. IS THERE EVER A
GOOD TIME TO GO
TO YOUR OPPONENT,
YOU ASK?
▪ Yes, of course there is an exception to the
rule when you should go to your opponent.
Depending on the situation, bait and wait is
a wise choice but taking the lead to attack
your opponent can be advantageous as
well. The element of surprise does not give
the opponent time to think of a counter
attack. They are left at your mercy and
must respond to your terms.
▪ Your biggest issue is to know what tactic to
use and the right time to use it. To bait and
wait or to strike with force, that is the
dilemma. You can be like the bear hunter
who lays the honey bait trap. He doesn’t
exhaust himself and risk his life to find the
bear he lays a trap and waits patiently for
the bear to come to him. Or if time is not on
your side, strike quickly to intimidate and
control. Choose your approach wisely.
Tariq Al-Basha @ albashatariq@outlook.com 10