How Well Are You Handling Intimidators In Your Life?

As a part of my reading list for Oct'17, I just completed reading "Winning Through Intimidation: How to be the victor and not the victim, in business and life". The title is misleading, in the sense that the book doesn't teach you how to intimidate someone, but teaches how to defend against intimidators of the world. The book is full of nuggets of wisdom, written with wit and in an easy to understand language. Over the next few posts, I'll write some of the theories the author propose and I'm sure you'd be able to relate to.

For starters, here's a quick test on how you are currently handling the intimidators you might come across (some explanation by me giving little more context for better understanding)

1. Do you often get invited to dinner, only to discover that you're the first course on the menu?
2. Do you ask your manager/spouse/neighbour/lawyer/accountant's permission before going to the rest room?
3. Are you working longer and harder hours, but just getting older?
4. Are you in awe of people who wear white hats? (Note: White hat denote a symbol of goodness; one who is admirable and honourable)
5. Do you find yourself panting whenever a Court Holder enters the room? (Note: A court holder is someone that is very charming, interested in seeking attention, makes a great first impression, sounds and acts like an expert, but in the end turns out to be an "all talk; no dough" type person)
6. Do you walk around feeling secure because so many people have told you, "Don't worry, I'll take care of you?"  
7. When your house went up in flames and the firemen came crashing through to save you, were you sitting in your favorite armchair calmly playing the fiddle?
8. Do you become easily infatuated when someone tells you what a great job you're doing?
9. Do you often wake up in reception rooms only to find that you've been sucking your thumb and playing with your yo-yo? (Note: This means whether people are making you wait endlessly to listen to you, despite their promise that they'd talk to you)
10. Do you find yourself bluffing more but walking away with less? (Note: This means whether you are issuing too many empty threats, without having the guts to see thru the same and compromising for less)