Perception by nature is decoupled from what is real.

Perception means how we see what is real.

And nowhere does it imply that we see the real in perception as it is.

In fact, evidence says that we see reality and it is distorted by our perception.

So it makes better sense to separate real, reality, and perception.

Real is what exists.

Reality is what our head sees and believes as real, because of our perception.

I have made the terminology confusing on purpose.

So that you have to think about it for a while to really understand it.

Real and reality are not equal.

There are things in real that you cannot change, but you can in reality.

There are instances where you can get what you want easier by manipulating reality than by changing what is real.

Many times you are closer to your goal by changing reality of people

That is, by just changing the perception of people.

Instead changing what is real and then hoping that it is somehow enters their perception and changes their reality.

Instead of giving more quantity of a drink, many cafes just give a glass that makes it feels as if you got a lot more.

Because we have already established: real ≠ reality.

So what is the guarantee that the changes you make in real will also be reflected in someone’s reality?

In a sense, when dealing with humans, trying to change the real instead of the reality is like trying to treat symptoms, not the illness.

Thus, it is by first principles and by a doctrine of best current move, we must be actively trying to change reality.

The raw material that we should be processing the most, refining the most, is not the material, not the real, not the physical, but the human mind and human attention.

We cannot be fishermen in the desert.

Our world demands us to work more on reality than on what is real.

And subconsciously, people are already doing that.

When you go out and look at the income statements of businesses, you will see that cost of sales is more than cost of manufacturing.

If trillion-dollar empires are based on this truth , on this principle, subconsciously and not with deliberation,

Then imagine what you can do when you have instilled it in your conscience.

Like Rory Sutherland would say:

It is impossible to turn lead into gold.

But it is possible to turn lead more valuable than gold with just a change in perception of people.

We are not here, in a sense, just for labor.

Our work lies beyond just that.

Our work consists of labor and making others imagine.

We are supposed to be the energy that, when people come in contact with it, changes their reality.

The raw material a human should work the most upon, as his obligation of being a social animal, is the perception of others

i.e the reality of others.

The work that keeps you involved with the real, the work that does not allow you to shape the reality of others will keep you irrelevant, powerless and not wealthy.

And the corollary of that is:

If you do not work on the perception of others, most of the time you will be losing.

The way to do this is to change the perception of someone in a way that it results in a social or monetary transaction that benefits you.

One way is to change the perception of someone about a product in a way that makes them buy so that you earn profit or commission.

Another way is to be liked or viewed in a favorable light by someone such that it brings in a net positive for your social status.

That could be impressing an interviewer, or convincing an investor, or lobbying a politician.

Another way is to influence the reality of the masses via marketing or propaganda.

We see corporations and regimes surviving off this.

Thus, it is apparent that extremely convex and rewarding things are possible via working on perception

That is, the reality of others.

Even in your current organization, this is visible

The majority of the workforce is involved with what is real.

They are manufacturing goods, constructing buildings, creating products, or working on Excel.

All of this is real work.

But look at your higher-ups — their work is different.

They are fully involved with perception.

They think about how to win new contracts.

They think about how to appear good to shareholders.

They focus on being in the good books of regulators.

They focus on being seen as mentors by employees.

How they can be the darling and aspiration of upcoming talent

Their energy is spent shaping reality, not working with the real.

And that’s why they are higher up in the hierarchy

Let me give you an example.

This is how perception saved me from risking ₹10,000.

Landlords usually do not allow this.

You can’t just say, “Use the deposit for this month’s rent. I’m leaving next month anyways.”

They don’t agree to that because once you leave, they have no reason to return the deposit.

If you pay ₹10,000 rent now, your deposit is still with them.

But now they have no incentive to give it back.

You’re gone. What will you do about it?

You won’t be around to follow up.

But this time, the situation was different.

I had built a good perception in my landlord’s mind.

He liked me. He trusted me.

I had always been respectful and easy to deal with.

More like a friend than just a tenant.

That made the ask easier.

I told him, “Please adjust this month’s rent against my deposit.”

And he agreed.

Because the perception was already strong.

Because the relationship had weight.

I didn’t have to engage ₹10,000.

I saved that money in liquidity.

I didn’t risk the deposit.

The relationship stayed clean. There was no friction.

And the transaction worked exactly the way I needed.

This is how real-world transactions actually function.

Perception becomes leverage.

Good perception earns you the right to ask.

Good relationships give you margin to act smarter.

You save money. You avoid stress. You win trust.

All of it flows through perception.

Trust is built quietly over time.

You do favors. You stay decent. You hold your word.

And one day, when it matters, people say yes.

That is how perception compounds.