The Globe and Mail

In their new book, The 50th Law, 50 Cent and Machiavellian self-help guru Robert Greene argue that "fearlessness" is the key to success in life and at work. But can the principles that propelled a hustler from the south side of Queens, N.Y., to become one of the most famous rappers of all time help you get ahead in the corporate world? Mr. Greene explains why, as the book says, "We are all corner hustlers in a new economic environment."

Your previous book, The 48 Laws of Power, became a huge phenomenon in the hip-hop world and among Hollywood moguls. Who do you see this book appealing to?

It's going to benefit you if you're going through a career change. It's going to benefit anybody about to enter the work world, or those in college.

What is the 50th Law?

The 50th Law is inspired by 50 Cent's example and his life. It's that you're not aware of the phenomenon, but you've got fears inside of you that are controlling your life. You're not aware of them because you are denying their existence. You're afraid of change, for instance. You don't like it, so you hang on to habits and routines. You deny the reality of these fears that are governing you. The 50th Law is that once you get past that point, once you become aware of these fears and what they are doing to you, now you have the freedom to move beyond them and discover this power and freedom that you have.

Why do you think 50 Cent is the embodiment of it?

He comes from the worst environment you could imagine for an American. South side Queens is a pretty dangerous neighbourhood. Everything was against him. Every step of his life, he's had to overcome one limit and then another. Each step of the way, when things look like he can't make it, he comes up with an answer because he's open and fearless.

How would you describe what you call "the fearless type"?

It's not the person who's all blustery and arrogant and acting like he or she is so tough. It's actually a kind of a calmness in the balance because fear is an emotion that kind of represents a lack of control. The ability to be fearless is actually a self-mastery.

What's the best way to overcome fear when it comes to life at the office?

In the office, you're usually dealing with political games. Usually there's a couple of people in there who are shady and treacherous, and you're dealing with a boss that you have to please. A lot of people are really naive in those situations. They don't want to think that somebody might be working against them.

You have to open your eyes and take in what's really going on in the environment you work in. It takes courage and a sense of detachment to look and see who's who and what's really happening.

The book really prizes individualism. What about teamwork? Can't a person get ahead by getting along?

I talk about how to be a leader in these times. That's not about individualism. What kind of leader are you going to be if you only think about yourself? You're not going to have power if that's how you think.

You suggest that we're all corner hustlers now. Do you really think the lessons 50 Cent learned as a hustler can translate to the corporate world?

America is a hustler's country, it's a country of entrepreneurs. The world is breaking apart in ways. You can't depend on your company to support you for 20, 30 years. More and more, you're on your own.

And as you're on your own, you're going to be facing a lot of fears. The hustler mentality is not dealing crack, it's "How can I protect myself? How can I advance myself as best as I can?"

Do people think strategically enough about their careers?

They don't. We're a short-attention-span culture, and that's the root of the problem. To have any success in life,

you need to be able to handle boredom and drudgery and routine, to learn something over and over and over again until you know it well. If all you want is a paycheque and comfort, then that's all you're going to get.

To get ahead, your book says we have to "manipulate people" and "bend the moral code." Don't you think that could come back to haunt a person?

Most definitely. I'd be naive to say that doesn't happen. If you're someone who's seen by other people as a manipulator, then you're not going to get very far in life.

You write that we "must master the art of knowing when and how to be bad." What do you mean by that?

There are times when you have to get a little dirty. It's knowing when to be bad - not how to be bad, but when. Which is not often, but when it's there, you need to know how to do it.

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Fear is the oldest and strongest emotion known to man, something deeply inscribed in our nervous system and subconscious.

Talent and good intentions are never enough in this world; you need to be fearless and strategic. Your goal in every manoeuvre in life must be ownership.

The further and deeper we contemplate the future, the greater our capacity to shape it according to our desires.

Excerpt from The 50th Law by 50 Cent and Robert Greene