The best business movie ever made
Published: Sat, 11/05/16
A man can do anything if he has those.”
— Zemo
“Captain America 3: Civil War”
Behold one of the best “business” movies ever made:
“The Count Of Monte Cristo”
(The 2002 version)
WARNING: Spoilers galore below…
It’s about a young man (Edmond Dantes) recently promoted to ship captain and about to marry his woman, who is then betrayed by his best friend, co-worker, and a corrupt official, and falsely imprisoned, with his loved ones thinking him dead. The prison is a hell hole — a small room, with nobody else to talk to and nothing to sit or sleep on. He gets a small bowl of slop to eat (with his fingers) each night, and there’s nothing to do except sit and count the stones in his cell.
The only “escape” is suicide or death by natural causes.
But, that’s not even the worst part.
The deranged warden admits to Edmond he knows he’s innocent, and he shouldn’t be there, because the prison (called the Chateau D’iff) is where the government sends the prisoners they’re “ashamed” of. And, just to remind the prisoners (even though they’re innocent) how long they’ve been there, the warden violently whips them each year on their anniversary.
Yay!
Anyway, for 5 years Edmond rots in this prison.
Nothing to do.
Nobody to talk to.
Not a smidgen of a hope for escape.
Until one evening he hears movement under the stone floor. At first, Edmond is freaked out — thinking it’s a monster coming to get him.
But it’s not a monster.
It’s a man.
Specifically, an old Priest who used to be a solider in Napoleon’s army for withholding information on where a vast treasure is hidden. And, in exchange for Edmond’s help digging, the Priest agrees to educate him on reading, writing, science, economics, and fighting.
Long story short:
After 8 more years Edmond escapes.
But, not before the Priest (with his dying breath) tells him where that treasure he was imprisoned for not telling about is hidden. A treasure, Edmond decides, he will use to get his revenge.
And get his revenge he does...
One by one, Edmond’s enemies fall into his traps as he outwits, outthinks, and out maneuvers the people who betrayed him 13 years earlier.
OK, so here’s the point of all this:
The movie shows how someone can go from complete despair and ruin — betrayed and falsely imprisoned for over 13 years — to becoming the “proverbial” charismatic and influential Villain.
Frankly, there’s nothing about Edmond that’s not charismatic.
(When you see the movie, it’s obvious.)
But, there is one all-important trait (that is mandatory if you want to be a charismatic and influential Villain) that made his escape and revenge possible.
A trait not 1 in 1,000 people truly has.
A trait I am constantly working at strengthening.
A trait, my little minion, that not only helped Edmond escape (as well as other people who have managed to escape prisons — both in movies and in real life), but can help you pretty much have anything you want:
Power.
Wealth.
Love.
Respect.
Access.
Privilege.
Prestige.
Fame.
Talent.
And the list goes on…
Anyway, I spend a whole chapter on this trait in my new “Persuasion Secrets Of The World’s Most Charismatic & Influential Villains” book now on sale at Amazon. And, if you buy it before tomorrow at midnight (EST) I will send you the 12 “lost” Ben Settle Show podcast episodes that were never aired.
To get your leather-gloved fingers on it all today, go here:
http://www.EmailPlayers.com/villains
Ben Settle
P.S. Here is what modern day master of persuasion Matt Fox says about the book:
“If people read this they'll make more sales period. As a sales and persuasion guy I've seen more people screw up sales because of one problem. That problem is inside the person selling. Villains isn't a typical ‘how to’ or ‘do X and get Y result’ book. It's a book that will challenge the way you think and act. It will make you uncomfortable. And that's why people need to read it. Progress is never made when you're comfortable.”
Grab it while the grabbin’s good here:
http://www.EmailPlayers.com/villains