The Nerdist Way_ How to Reach the Next Level (In Real Life) - Chris Hardwick [73]
Superheroes are jocks. Most of them are pretty and have powers. (Except for Batman, but I think he was an evil genius who happened to perform a service congruent with our social standards. Really, he’s a sociopath—a Dexter before there was a Dexter.) Evil geniuses work their way up. They are not afraid to plan big and take chances that most of the populace would deem “maniacal.” They also take setbacks as motivation and retooling opportunities. In their mind, failure is simply not an option. “I’ll get you next time, Gadget! Next tiiiiiiiiime,” blurts a fist-shaking Dr. Claw.
These geniuses are onto something.
Why? Here’s why! Among other things, evil geniuses (genii?):
1. Are highly motivated. A pivotal moment early in life dealt them a terrible blow. Rather than just “getting over it” the evil genius stewed and plotted to fill the hole that was left in the wake of that event. It reverberates to their very core and haunts them daily. They are HIGHLY motivated to get the revenge they so desperately deserve.
2. Have a goal. Everything an evil genius does is part of a pathway to a singular vision. He doesn’t just steal diamonds for the hell of it, with no follow-up plan. The diamonds are necessary to power the Sonic Disruptor, which will render inert the company that fired his father so many years ago, which ultimately led to his suicide and the orphaning of the evil genius (at the time, just a Nerdy kid).
3. Have a strong point of view. Years of torment and introspection have brought the Evil Genius closer to himself. He wishes to brand his indelible mark upon the world and be forever remembered. To do this, he has to be specific enough and have easily identifiable symbols that define him.
4. Never give up. Whether incarcerated or left for dead, the evil genius is in a constant state of “Until next time!!!” No matter how down the chips seem to be, he is never down until deceased and is forever plotting his next series of moves. He knows that his path of evil will encounter road blocks. He is not afraid to fail because ultimate success is the only option in his mind. This is accomplished by never giving up.
5. Undergo incredible transformations. Whether it be an unplanned chemical accident or just simple psychological trauma, evil geniuses usually start from a place of utter weakness and turn their lives around toward strength and the acquisition of power.
But how? HOW I ASK YOU???
Well, think about it. If you’re a Nerd, which you probably are, then you have felt weak in the past for one reason or another. Your archnemesis, in this case, should be the event or series of events that have seemingly conspired against you. You will mobilize your forces and begin plotting your revenge. No matter what you come up against, you will find a way around it because you are philosophically committed!
Another tactic is love. A number of evil geniuses are motivated by the unrequited love of someone. If they can only make a big enough splash . . . show him or her how truly spectacular they are, then he or she will be convinced!!! True, this rarely works in terms of getting the other person into the ol’ sackeroo, but the trick here is to take advantage of the motivational feelings that this inspires. Freud said that we are motivated by two things: the desires for greatness and sex. Dale Carnegie recommended channeling sexual energy to motivate. It’s an interesting idea, repurposing chemically induced emotions to achieve our Will. I like it. Gives the user a sense of control. It’s also fun to trick your body. “Ha, Brain! You thought I was just trying to get laid! In fact, I was using your adrenaline surges to build an empire (to ultimately get laid)!” Try it. Fix someone in your mind you want to have sex with. Pick whoever you want, but I suggest that it be someone you’re not likely to meet, like an actor or actress or a fictional wizard or witch. Make it a unicorn with six human tits for all I care. The point