To properly understand the differences between powerful and powerless people, we need to break down what exactly makes up the two categories.
Some people command, while others just complain.
Some move the world, while others get tossed around in the process.
This is what makes the difference between powerful people and powerless ones.
Don’t worry if you don’t feel like reading; you can enjoy the video below or watch it on YouTube:
1
Vision vs. short-sightedness
The difference between powerful and powerless people often starts with their vision.
Powerful people see beyond the horizon; they have a roadmap, crafting strategies and setting goals to thrive in the future.
They understand that tomorrow is eventually going to be today. And they don’t want to be caught unprepared.
Powerless people just plan to survive day to day and that’s it.
And when tomorrow eventually comes, well, they will figure it out then.
They see planning for the future as a tiresome task because they have to consider too many things and think.
They give away their power to whatever the world has in store for them.
2
Proactivity vs. reactivity
Proactivity is the playground of the powerful.
They’re the chess players of life, always thinking several moves ahead.
Instead of waiting for opportunities to come knocking, they build the door and turn the handle themselves.
Reactivity, however, is a hallmark of the powerless.
They are constantly playing catch-up, like leaves in the wind, as a result of circumstances.
Powerful people make things happen and they wouldn’t have it any other way.
They feel like it’s their job to take care of things and make sure everything goes the way they want.
On the other hand, powerless people just wait for things to happen randomly so they can react to them. They sit on the sidelines, watching the world move on and waiting for someone to tell them what to do.
And if nothing happens, well, they keep waiting.
3
Bold plays vs. indecision
Powerful people have the guts to make life-changing moves, even when faced with uncertainty.
It’s not that they don’t experience fear, but that they force themselves to move past it and see what’s on the other side.
That allows them to make bold plays like moving to another country that suits their needs better, doing a 180 on their career, changing fields completely, or completely reinventing themselves.
These types of moves require you to be a certain type of person.
On the other hand, those who lack power are unable to decide because of their fear of doing so.
They are scared of the unknown, the change, and the things that come with it.
So they avoid being in uncomfortable situations altogether.
They fail to realize that the world doesn’t pause for their indecision.
4
Self-Belief vs. self-doubt
Powerful people have an unwavering belief in their abilities and potential.
This isn’t about arrogance; it’s about a deep-rooted confidence that propels them forward.
They understand that everything can be learned and everything can be practiced.
They are aware that neither smarter nor more unique people than them created their world.
So that makes them confident in their ability to build their world.
Contrast this with the powerless, often drowning in a sea of self-doubt.
- They struggle with a lack of confidence, which limits their ability to act.
- They think people like them are not meant for anything greater than what has already been given to them.
- They think they lack talent, ability, and intelligence, and they don’t see a way beyond their condition.
And with that attitude, even the best opportunities and talents can go to waste.
5
Influence vs. being loud
Powerful individuals have a circle of influence.
They impact decisions, shape opinions, and drive change.
People respect their opinions because they have a solid track record and can back them up with facts.
And at the end of the day, influence is about presenting a clear way forward that everybody can understand.
It’s about having a positive impact on a large scale.
And by the way, we are talking about good influence here, not the “my dad is a lawyer” one’.
Powerless people believe influence is about how hard you are yelling and how many followers you have.
They mistake influence for clout.
So they go out of their way to build a persona that has the best chance of getting noticed.
And they change it every time a new trend comes around.
6
Adaptability vs. rigidity
Powerful people are like water; they flow, adapt, and find their way around obstacles.
They embrace change, knowing it’s the only constant in life.
So they focus on the things they can control while embracing and adapting to the things they cannot.
This allows them to stay consistent on their path, regardless of what the world is doing or where it’s going.
Meanwhile, the powerless stand rigid like old trees, unable to bend with the wind.
They fear change, clinging to outdated methods and ideas.
They largely live in the past and they get defensive every time change needs to happen.
And when change inevitably comes, they start blaming the world for no reason.
7
Accountability vs. blame-shifting
Powerful people never blame anyone, even when it’s someone’s fault.
They understand that blaming someone doesn’t automatically make them accountable; it just makes them vulnerable and uncomfortable.
So they skip the blaming part altogether and go straight towards holding people accountable, including themselves, in a way that allows them to grow.
They know that mistakes, undersights, and human errors are bound to happen from time to time.
The important thing is to figure out how to recover.
In contrast, the powerless are quick to point fingers, constantly shifting blame onto others.
For them, the highlight of a mistake is to create drama around it, not to move forward.
8
Continuous learning vs. stagnation
The powerful are lifelong learners.
They understand that to stop learning is to stop growing.
They’re constantly updating their knowledge, upgrading their skills, and staying ahead of the curve.
And they don’t view learning as something they have to do, but as a normal part of life.
They move in unison with the world. On the other hand, the powerless are content with stagnation.
They feel like having to learn something new is more like a punishment than an opportunity.
And that corners them into dead-end jobs and low ceilings.
9
Emotional intelligence vs. emotional instability
The difference between powerful and powerless people is that powerful people learn to manage and control their emotions.
They don’t let impulses and first-hand reactions dictate their initial response.
And whenever they feel like their emotions are a bit too strong, they take a step back to let things cool down.
Powerless people, on the other hand, always rely on their first instinct.
And that makes them temperamental and annoying to deal with.
They gave a sense that they were coming from a place of insecurity and doubt so people eventually ended up never taking them seriously
10
Strategic thinking vs. rolling the dice
Powerful people move with purpose and intent.
They write things down, they make timelines, and they have a pretty good idea of how things are going to happen.
It’s not that they overthink and over-plan, but they tend to at least have a general idea of what things should look like, and they stick to the plan long enough to see it happening.
On the other hand, powerless people just roll the dice and hope for the best:
- They are the ones who usually get in at the worst time possible and get out at the worst time possible as well.
- They always seem to have a bad sense of timing or direction.
- They gamble with the odds, playing games that are designed to take advantage of people like them.
11
Resilience vs. fragility
The difference between powerful and powerless people is that powerful people can take a hit and move on.
The reality is that stupid things happen.
One thing they do well is set up a tempo that gives them enough momentum to make it through tough times.
They know that a bad situation won’t last forever, so they keep pushing.
Powerless people, on the other hand, dramatize any small inconvenience as if it’s the end of the world.
They constantly complain about things not working out and they always seem to get stuck in awkward situations that seem impossible to bounce back from.
12
Empathy vs. apathy
The powerful understand the power of empathy. They connect with people on a deeper level, understanding their motivations, fears, and aspirations.
This empathy allows them to build strong relationships and lead effectively.
Those who lack power often exhibit apathy and indifference to the needs and feelings of others.
They’re like islands, isolated and disconnected.
They make no effort to understand how and why others might think differently and they have a “me vs. them” mentality.
They think they are lone wolves when, in reality, they are just lost sheep.
13
Leadership vs. authority
Leadership is a defining trait of the powerful.
They know how to motivate others and help them focus on a common goal.
They are extremely good communicators and extremely efficient at working together with others.
Powerless people, well, they only understand authority.
And there are plenty of powerless people who ended up in authority positions due to various reasons and who have a god complex.
For them, it’s only their way or the highway.
They see a difference in opinion as insubordination and those who follow these kinds of people do it out of fear.
14
View on money
Powerful people understand that money is a resource that makes things happen.
They know how to get it and how to use it properly. They treat money purely as a tool.
Powerless people love money. For them, it’s a status symbol.
And they want to get as much as possible, just to show others that they have it.
That’s why you see them spend so much on appearances.
It’s the only thing they can do that makes them feel powerful.
And that creates a deep and troubled relationship with money as a whole.
They are constantly chasing the dollar bill because of it, which has blinded them.
15
How they position themselves
Powerful people make others feel powerful too.
Powerless people make others feel powerless too, so they can feel better by contrast.
It’s that simple.
When someone is down, they bring others down with them.
They feel less miserable when everyone around them is miserable too.
This is a type of mentality that keeps them stuck in life forever.
These are the main things that differentiate powerful people from powerless people
And, of course, we have a bonus for you.
Bonus
True powerful people don’t chase power
They just stay true to their cause and mind their own business, unshaken by outside factors.
And that’s what makes them powerful.
These are the 15 differences between powerful and powerless people. See you next time!
