1. Make an enemy
To be a villain of any kind, one must acquire an enemy. However, to be like Iago, you must be a liberated villain. Defy the stereotypes that every hero's arch nemesis was created by the hero himself by having an enemy for no good reason. Stock up on justifications of your hatred in case someone asks or you must make a soliloquy to the audience, but never say the real reason. Defy the stereotype that every hero's arch nemesis was created by the hero himself. Choose an enemy nearly at random just as long as he has more power than you, so you can enjoy the rush of undoing him and his superiority.
2. Do Not Let Said Enemy Know You are Enemies
If you are going to be like Iago, you must strictly follow the saying, "Keep your enemies close." Do not let anyone, no matter who they, feel they are on your bad side, especially those you are poised to destroy. It is crucial that they trust you so you can cheat them and lead them to their doom.
3. Collect Pawns
An evil scheme is often compared to a game of chess. Metaphorically, you are the kind of the black team, and your arch enemy is the kind of the white team. While you are a strong and capable antagonist, no one can defeat the kind alone. You need back up just as he has. You need the other pieces on your side of the chess board. Gather people who you can easily manipulate and use to get to your goal, and don't forget to capture your enemy's pawns with your own and maybe even add them to you collection.
4. Do Not Become Attached
As the analogy continues, you must remember what your pieces are. You are playing chess, not Pokemon. You must accept that each of your pieces and the pieces of your opponent will likely be killed or sacrificed. Do not think of them as you would think yourself. Have no empathy. They are not real people, and their desires should not be considered unless they are relevant to you. To be Iago, you must be a sociopath.
5. Maintain Patience
Patience is a virtue. Just as Iago himself said:
"How poor are they that have not patience!
What wound did ever heal but by degrees?
Thou know'st we work by wit, and not by witchcraft;
And wit depends on dilatory time."
No good plan was completed in four days. If you plan to emulate his honor, you must be willing to work hard.
6. Initiate Your Plan
Once you are prepared with the necessary materials, it is time to put that plan in your head into action. The best way to do this is to have someone else start your plan for you. Choose carefully what piece to start with and have convince one to advance to the next step of your plan. For example, the first thing Iago himself did was use Roderigo to tell Desdemona's father she had eloped.
7. Be Ready to Think Quick and Think Well
Your plan, no matter how wonderfully crafted it is, sometimes can take a different turn. You may find yourself stuck for an idea. Don't let that happen. You must be a master at improvising at all times. A true Iago can come with a new idea in only two hows of a soliloquy, and so must you.
8. Kill When You Need To
Typically, Iago and one who strives to be one would trick others into doing their dirty work. However, there are some times when people must be silenced. Make sure you have the heart and ability to kill as it will at some point become necessary.
9. Never Say Die
In companion to the above, you must refuse to be slain. You may lose, but you may never admit defeat. You are superior. You cannot be killed.
10. Never Say Anything
Compromised or not, there is one last thing you can do to show the hero you have won: don't say anything. Leave him dissatisfied. Leave it all a mystery. When it comes time for him to die, do not satiate his curiosity. Do not take his last request and tell him the final answer it. If you have a precious secret, an unknown motive, let him die not knowing and you die without telling. It is an extra way to spit in his face one last time at the end of the book.
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