Which Laws from 48 Laws of Power Should Every Creative Know?

Sep 27

Let’s talk about something most artists shy away from: power.

Yes, I know. We want to create, to express, to change minds, not to scheme and plot. But let me tell you, as a friend who’s been there: you’re in the world, not outside of it. And the world has rules. If you want to make an impact and not get stomped on you better learn them.

Robert Greene’s 48 Laws of Power has a reputation for being “cold” or “manipulative,” but you don’t have to be a villain to learn from it. It’s really a book about understanding what people do, and how to move in a world that’s not always kind.

Today, I want to talk about the top 5 laws from the 48 that every creative, artist, designer, photographer, filmmaker, anyone making things, should know. Let’s get you prepared, so you don’t end up frustrated or taken advantage of.

1. Law 6: Court Attention at All Costs

If you remember only one thing, let it be this: invisibility is death.

You can be the most talented painter alive, but if no one knows you, who will care?

I know it feels icky to say. It feels like “selling out” or “being egotistical.” But it’s not. It’s respecting your own work.

You made something. Don’t hide it. Find ways to make people look. Post it. Exhibit it. Tell the story behind it. Make people stop scrolling. Make them remember you.

People have short attention spans. If you’re not deliberately grabbing their attention, someone else will. And often it’ll be someone with less talent and more nerve.

You don’t have to be tacky about it. But you do have to be intentional. You want power as an artist? Be seen.

2. Law 5: So Much Depends on Reputation: Guard It with Your Life

Your reputation is your currency.

It speaks for you when you're not there. Clients hire you for it. Collaborators choose you because of it. Audiences trust you because of it.

One bad move can stain it.

This doesn’t mean being paranoid or fake. It means being consistent and careful about how you present yourself. Don’t badmouth clients or other artists in public. Don’t overpromise and underdeliver. Don’t rush sloppy work.

Word travels. The industry is smaller than you think—even globally. You want people to say, “They’re professional, creative, reliable.” That’s power.

3. Law 3: Conceal Your Intentions

Here’s the tricky one.

Artists are often too honest about their plans. They’ll say “I’m working on this big idea,” or “I’m negotiating with this brand,” or “I’m pitching to this gallery.”

Be careful about oversharing.

Not because you’re being shady, but because information is power. When people know your plans, they can undermine them, steal them, or simply discourage you.

I’ve seen it too many times. A designer says they’re applying to a big agency, and someone talks them out of it. A filmmaker shares a concept, and it shows up somewhere else.

Be friendly. Be open. But keep your big moves private until they’re secure.

4. Law 13: When Asking for Help, Appeal to People's Self-Interest

We creatives love to think, “They’ll help me because they believe in art.”

Sometimes, sure. But usually, people are busy. They’re thinking, “What do I get out of this?”

If you want support funding, collaboration, a favor, frame it in terms of what’s in it for them.

Pitch your project not just as “my dream” but “a chance to reach a new audience,” “a way to show your brand’s values,” “an opportunity to create something groundbreaking together.”

Even friends and mentors have limits to their generosity. If you can show them why helping you helps them, you’ll get much further.

It’s not manipulative, it’s respectful. You’re acknowledging their needs too.

5. Law 29: Plan All the Way to the End

Artists love spontaneity. We love saying “I’ll figure it out.”

But when it comes to making real moves launching a business, creating a collection, pitching to investors, applying to grants you need to plan.

What does success look like? How will you get there? What’s step one, step two, step three? What’s the worst-case scenario? What will you do if that happens?

People respect someone with a plan. And you’ll respect yourself more when you’re not constantly putting out fires you could have predicted.

The world is full of talented artists who didn’t plan and got burned. Don’t be one of them.

Look, I’m not telling you to become cynical or calculating. I’m telling you to become wise.

You can stay kind, collaborative, and authentic but also smart.

Robert Greene’s 48 Laws of Power isn’t a sacred text. But it’s a useful mirror. It shows you how people think, how they act, and how you can avoid being the naive one in the room.

You’re an artist. Your work matters. Don’t let it get buried because you didn’t know how to play the game.

Learn the rules. Bend them. Break them if you want. But at least know them.

Best Wishes,
Muskaan Rudhra