It's an Art

Proteus and Hermes, worked in Kichijoji at one of our favorite cafes. 
For the first time perhaps, in terms of how far I can integrate my philosophical activity, I felt some satisfaction.
I'm on board so long as JA can make marketing a sophisticated art of sorts.
The prospect excites me. Like Comme des Garcons creating philosophical works of art.

Magazine report - the new project

The first product that Japan Access will develop. The standards will be higher than the industry is used to. We should impress, surprise, make sure that people talk about the product, the quality, the innovativeness. Complex thinking explained in a simple way. We offer a map in the jungle. And we are the expert explorers.

The 4 Points

1. A good woman. At least one year of work experience. Not too young. Understands Proteus' professional situation.
2. Organize schedule. Tasks. Deadlines.
3. Working with people. Diplomacy. Long-term interdependent skills.
4. Conveying the value of Proteus' information and work.

Point 2 needs to be taken care of immediately. I propose we get a board in your room/office and write everything down there. Visible. Constantly reminds us of our schedule.

3. and 4. we can continually work on them.

Delivered by Hermes

When I saw the title image on Proteus' other blog, I thought oh shit this is too good.

I started thinking back to the genesis of all this. Proteus. It was Mr. Goldsmith that suggested to Proteus that the company should have a quality name. Yes. And before that he became Proteus from out of our talks. It began with Hermes' usual critique of Proteus' character. You need more water! Something elemental. Then I read the passage out of the 48 Laws of Power. He liked it.

But even before all this...

The man who was to become Proteus, he had studied the luxury market for some years. And then he met me. Who would of thought it would all lead to this? As for me, I had gotten the 48 Laws years before because of my search for knowledge and power. Coincidences upon coincidences make destiny. And Proteus is somehow its alchemical result.

Hermes, started reading Proteus' thesis paper (with nostalgia and now greater understanding). I was also reading Robert Greene's recent talk he gave to a business audience in Dubai and Singapore. He spoke of the flattening of power. Power evolves from a rigid hierarchical structure to a fluid, chaotic, disseminated system. This may add a very interesting dimension to Proteus' thesis on the new luxury market in Japan. The world is flattening. Money, power, communication...the whole planet wants to get in on the game. The game is fluid, chaotic, elusive. Whoever dares to cross such treacherous waters to reach out and expand their powers must acquire assistance from the gods who hold the keys. Proteus.

Speak, Hermes! The oracles have spoken. Prophets around the world have been telling us with increasing vigor... I, Hermes deliver their messages back to Proteus: The world is accelerating. 

And if I may... I myself envision a larger paradigm wherein we must operate. And that larger paradigm is a cultural renaissance, without which Japan may die. Japan is its own worst enemy. Yet it has within it the key to revive itself, and indeed may unlock the whole of human history. Uncovered, it shall be the mother of all Black Swans. It is the fountainhead of all wisdom, from Socrates to Buddha. But I can not deliver further upon this matter at the moment. My concern here is to let it be understood that we must operate under a larger paradigm. It is a cultural paradigm. Something that transcends narrow interests, just as Napoleon had his soldiers fight for a cultural revolution and not just for France.

The world is accelerating and cultural revolutions whether we like it or not are unfolding. Whoever denies this is a fool who can not appreciate the times we live in (see Robert Greene's latest ebook's last paragraph). Let the gods stand at the vanguard of these revolutions now taking place. Let Proteus keep at the gate of the far eastern corner.

Mercury - a manifest for Proteus

He would scour the world, assuming whatever form he desired. Like the liquid metal named after him, he embodies the elusive, the ungraspable - the power of formlessness.




Welcome ... Hermes.

The laws that govern circumstances are abolished by new circumstances. [Napoleon]

An enemy that does not respect you will grow bold, and boldness makes even the smallest animal dangerous.

In evolution, largeness is often the first step toward extinction. What is immense and bloated has no mobility, but must constantly feed itself.

Take nothing personally.

Be like vapor.

Evolve toward abstraction, toward being more mental and less material.

The powerful vary their rhytms and patterns, change course, adopt to circumstance, and learn to improvise.

The greatest danger occurs at the moment of victory. [Napoleon]

Display the utmost disdain for those who envy you.

People cannot envy the power that they themselves have given a person who does not seem to desire it.

It is often your own actions that stir up envy, your own unawareness.

A great danger in the realm of power is the sudden improvement in fortune.