To: Members of MOVE (Mastermind of Villainous Enterprise)
From: Management
Subject: Dealing with Victim Mentality
In recent years, there has been a growing concern among the villain community about the quality and quantity of heroes to grapple with. This problem doesn’t appear to be abating.
Let me provide a some context for those new to our ranks.
One of the primary jobs of a Villain is to unearth heroes. While we would prefer that heroes mind their own business and let us get on with our plots and plans, we cannot deny that we are made better by the heroes that try to thwart us. Heroes give us energy. They make us better. But only if they play by the rules.
As “conscious” villains, we require a certain structure to our relationship with these heroes. We’ll do our part if they do theirs.
Our first job as villains is to entice the potential hero cross a “threshold” to begin their hero’s journey. This means that they have chosen to accept their journey. This is never easy because heroes inevitably resist the call. They require us to constantly up the stakes until they finally capitulate. I mean, how often have we had to raise taxes on the poor in order for a hero to arise?
This is why villains get a bad name. We have to really push to get quality heroes to start pushing back.
When we are able to get a hero to step up, it is our job to oblige them with tests and trials. Coming up with problems for our heroes often one of the best parts of the job. Some of our tests they will pass. Some they will fail. The best heroes keep us at the top of our game. Without their constant pressure, world domination is just a pipe dream.
But let me be clear about this. Villains seek heroes, not victims.
A hero is not someone who gets triggered and complains. This is victim mentality. Our research indicates that victimhood has risen significantly over the past 10 years. As a result, fewer and fewer heroes are engaging with us.
The data suggests that quality hero candidates are using victimhood to keep themselves from crossing the threshold and starting their journey. Instead of grappling with us as we seek to impact the world, they are attending protests and posting on social media. This is rarely helpful.
Unlike heroes, victims step away from their calling, settling for complaining, posting signs in their yard, or just muttering under their breath.
DON’T BE PULLED INTO THEIR GAMES.
Asking a victim to act like a hero is like asking a couch to dance.
We, as villains, have to take responsibility for curtailing this behavior. After all, the first rule of a villain is, “If I don’t do it, no one will.”
Perhaps we’re not giving these victims enough incentive to start their hero’s journey. Have we, the Villains, gotten soft? Has this lack of heroes made us sloppy?
When times get tough, I think it’s important to go back to basics. Here’s a checklist for all of our members to review before the new year gets to far along.
- Revisit and refresh your monologue. Can you make it more impactful? More biting?
- Practice, practice, practice. How often are you giving your monologue? Are you practicing in the mirror to ensure you have the proper balance of emotion and rationality?
- Are you doing your minion one-on-ones regularly? Are you challenging them? We don’t need them shooting up schools because they are bored.
- Set stretch goals. If you are finding it relatively easy to implement your plans due to a lack of hero push-back, should you be shooting higher?
Always remember: we are Villains, not minions. If our goals are soft, our heroes will be soft.
The world is not going to change itself. If we don’t do it, no one will.
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