7 Rules of Power summary

Christina Troitino once “crashed” an exclusive Sundance dinner by subtly bending the rules. First, instead of sending a long bio, she sent a one-line email saying she was a writer for Forbes requesting attendance at a long-running private dinner series. Then she waited before following up – projecting that she had options. When she finally arrived, she brought a guest who wasn’t on the list… and was still let in. By breaking small norms, she signaled confidence and agency.

When the pandemic hit, she applied the same principle on a larger scale. Troitino launched a virtual networking initiative, published a guide so other schools could replicate it quickly, and soon organized a cross-MBA charity event. A popular MBA-focused Instagram account promoted it, more programs joined – including Harvard once momentum was clear – and the effort ultimately raised $56,000. By creating something valuable without waiting for permission, she positioned herself at the center of a growing network and built a reputation for getting things done.

When someone meets you, what first impression do you give? Do people see you as powerful, or hesitant?

First impressions form fast and tend to stick. People use them to decide how seriously to take you, whether to defer to you, and whether to back you. Once that view sets, they keep noticing things that confirm it – confirmation bias.

Let’s turn now to the fourth rule: build a powerful brand. Your brand is the clear, repeated story that tells people who you are, what you do, and why they should come to you. A strong brand widens your access, pulls opportunities toward you, and then compounds.

Laura Chau, a partner at the early-stage venture firm Canaan Partners, didn’t wait for deals to come to her. She built momentum through a self-reinforcing loop – each visible action leading naturally to the next. A Forbes 30 Under 30 nod boosted her credibility; she launched WoVen (Women Who Venture), a podcast where she interviewed senior founders and investors; she hosted curated panels featuring promising entrepreneurs; she blogged regularly and shared insights through her newsletter, Taking Stock. Then came Hot Deal Time Machine, a weekly show featuring retrospectives with founders and the VCs who backed them. Together, these efforts formed her personal “flywheel” – each project making the next opportunity easier to land, and each association enhancing her visibility and status by proximity.

At Netscape, Omid Kordestani realized great work alone wasn’t moving his career. So he reallocated time to relationships – up, down, and across the Valley. When Google interviewed him, he steered a long session into an informal dinner – he picked up the check – let his interpersonal skill shine, and became employee #11. The payoff from that one habit – systematic relationship-building – was immeasurable. So there’s rule 5 in action: network relentlessly.

Here are four principles to help you do it well:

Are you using the power you already have – right now – or waiting for a “better moment”? The sixth rule of power is to use your power. This particularly applies to new leaders who only get a brief window before opponents begin to organize themselves. Using your power signals strength, attracts allies, and makes further action easier.

Lyndon Johnson grasped this instantly. On Air Force One after JFK’s assassination, he mapped the Great Society and said, “Now that I’ve got the power, I aim to use it,” then went on to list civil rights, education, and medical insurance as priorities. Early, visible moves created momentum.

Before Trump took office, Senator Lindsey Graham called him “a race-baiting, xenophobic bigot.” By 2019, Graham became one of his most vocal supporters. Why the change of heart? Because once someone has power, the rules of judgment shift. The seventh rule puts it quite plainly: success excuses (almost) everything.

Why is that? Well, success changes perception. Win once, and you’re seen as a winner. People want to work with you and more opportunities come your way. This is known as the Matthew Effect – advantage builds on advantage. Even if your path was messy, success reframes it.