Chapter 6
Niccolò Machiavelli
Machiavelli's insight captures a perennial struggle for visionaries. Leading change means confronting entrenched interests and skepticism from potential allies. The political landscape of early 16th-century Italy, fraught with shifting alliances and power struggles, exemplifies the treacherous terrain for an innovator. Change-makers often face hostility from those benefiting from the status quo and tepid support from those uncertain of promised gains.