I was in a discussion with a colleague today concerning President Obama, society's beliefs of success and power and what politics has to do with anything. I thought it might be good to take a diversion from physics and theories of science to talk about power or influence as my colleague calls it.

There are very stark differences between power and politics. If there wasn't we wouldn't have coined terms like "political power." These differences are represented in the area of authority and social aspects. Having power, really involves being a respected or authoritative figure in a culture or organization. Just as we are under the command of the President, personally I am under the rule of my wife or even my Grandmother. This type of power isn't by law or enforced but is a moral power. Politics is more about propaganda and miss direction to influence the outcome of a process. This is not always an election or government race, these political processes occur in business as one may try to climb the corporate ladder.

Even so, there are a few similiarities if not parallels in power and politics. Both involve gaining support or the authority by way of groups of persons. Powerful individuals are only as powerful as the people following them, ditto for politics and those that practice it, in business and groups.

Although often associated with each other, they should - in the rudimentary form - be seen as mutually exclusive. This is due to the aforementioned differences and the fact that power is independent of politics and visa versa. Some may argue that they are always exclusive because it is a political process to acquire power and political prowess only comes through power. However, this is a misconception created by our culture. In many world societies, rulers, leaders and guides are not elected or come into authority by political processes by by simple life span, experience or circumstance. It is only in a democratic society that emphasis is placed upon the governed persons electing a representive or a business person playing with information to gain leverage.

We often refute or are ignorant to such cases of power and authority because these 'powerful' individuals have become powerful by means of survival and wisdom, not clever thinking or shady methods. They don't make the evening news. As the adage, by John Emerich Edward Dalberg says, "Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts, absolutely." When power is gained without an ethical or moral process of experience, there is often not enough wisdom attach for it to be of any benefit to those it is meant to help or support.