In the end, just about everything we do is motivated by power. Whether we're to obtain it, or responding to someone else's influence, it's a constant factor.

Sometimes getting to the top requires bending the rules of conventional morality. Best selling author Robert Greene distills thousands of years of historical evidence and research in his book, The 48 Laws Of Power.

We've broken out some of his best rules for those looking to get to the top.

Greene gave us permission to re-publish excerpts from his book.