Keep people off balance and in the dark by never revealing the purpose behind your actions. If they have no clue what you are up to, they cannot prepare a defense. Guide them far enough down the wrong path, envelop them in enough smoke, and by the time they realize your intentions, it will be to late.
In other words, keep them guessing.
In the 1850's Otto von Bismark, a Prussian Minister, was caught up in a time of change. Germans were crying to be unified into a solid nation from the many states it had broken up into, of which Prussia was one. The current King, Fredrick William IV and his ministers were afraid that attempting to do so would anger Austria and cause a war with them as well.
Bismark, a former soldier, had dreamed of a united Germany and of humiliating Austria for there part in keeping Germany divided. So he went before the King and parliament and gave a passionate speech. A speech about how foolish it would be to make war without a reason so valid that it would still be valid when the war was over. He spoke out for Austria ad praised their actions. This speech was enough to keep Prussia from going to war. The King was so pleased that he made Bismark a member of his cabinet and later Bismark became the Premier of Prussia. From there Bismark eventually led Prussia in a war against austria and forged and powerful German state, with Prussia at it's head.
One of the fast tracks to gaining the upper hand is to drop the pretense of honesty, and learn the skill of concealing what you really desire. Often this can involve setting up a idea or cause that you truly don't believe in, or to pursue something you are not interested in. Hide your intentions not by being quite but rather by talking about something you don't desire as if it were the longing of your heart. Or you can use the age old practice of false sincerity. Don't take it to far or people start to think you are up to something.
The best deceivers are not those who make up tall tales and elaborate stories. The best tend to be a little bland and even dull witted. they come across as familiar and banal.
If you are familiar with magic then you have seen a great example of this. They get you to concentrate on the wrong thing and add in smoke and mirrors to make you believe on thing is going to happen, while the other hand is preparing the "trick". Also in dating, often a person will use the tactic of going after a person close to the object of their desire to get a person to lower their defenses. Then, like a shark, they will close in for the "kill" on their unsuspecting prey.
In my life I've rarely used this practice. Back when I worked at a particular summer camp, I had gained a bit of a reputation for partying after hours even though I did my job extremely well. Well, in order to try and reel me in I had heard a rumor that they were going to hire me but not give me the position I wanted. So i began to tell everyone how great it would be to be the gymnastics instructor (it would have been great except for the fact we'd had the same on for 5 years and I knew he was coming back). The truth was that I'd been told that their was an opening for BMX instructor and was interested in that position, but I feigned non-interest in it. Matter of fact, when it would come up I would politely change the subject. That next summer when I was approached for the BMX position, I acted shocked and apprehensive for a while but willing to shoulder my load. In the end, I ended up taking that program and remolding it into the most popular program at that camp while I taught it (4 years in a row).
Now this is not to say, that you need to go around lying to people, just don't let them know what your strategy or plan is.
Now at times it might work better for you to do the opposite of this law. That is to say, you might want to revel exactly what you want to do. This tactic is best used if you are known for being sneaky. It is at this time better to own up to the fact that you are a rogue, not only can you at times be forgiven your short comings but at times you will even become admired and allowed, if not asked, to keep up your deceptions.
PT Barnum, a man who took deception to a level of art, learned to embrace his reputation as he got older. He once set up a buffalo hunt in New Jersey with real Native Americans and buffalo. Although he had said it was genuine, it came across as so staged and set up that the crowd found it amusing. Taking a page from that same book, he later revealed his deceptions in a tell-all book about his life.
At other times you might find that you want a smoke screen that is so loud it prevents people from seeing what your real intentions are. Like the charlatans from the past who would come into town with performers and fortune tellers, when the real purpose was to get people to by some cure all elixir that in reality did nothing or at times more harm then good. The down side of this strategy is that you will generally have to get out of town before it becomes known that all you are is pomp and that your cure all really is a cure none.
Have you ever heard of a skillful general, who intends to surprise a citadel, announcing his plan to the enemy? Conceal your purpose and hide your progress; do no disclose the extent of your designs until they cannot be opposed, until the combat is over. Win the victory before you declare war. In a word, imitate those warlike people whose designs are not known except by the ravaged country through which they have passed.
~ Ninon de Lenclos
-Saint
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