The weak are the easiest to maneuver by controlling their options. Cardinal de Retz, the great seventeenth century provocateur, served as an unofficial assistant to the Duke of New Orleans, who was notoriously indecisive. It was a constant struggle to convince the duke to take action, he would hem and haw, weigh the options, and wait till the last moment, giving everyone around him an ulcer. But Retz discovered a way to handle him: He would describe all sorts of dangers, exaggerating them as much as possible, until the duke saw a yawning abyss in every direction except one: the one Retz was pushing him to take. This tactic is similar to ''Color the Choices,'' but with the weak you have to be more aggressive. Work on their emotions, use fear and terror to propel them into action. Try reason and they will always find a way to procrastinate.