As a former Infantry Officer I was schooled and schooled- drilled and drilled on strategic thinking. I had to oversee 35 men who's lives would be on the line in combat if I failed in my strategic thinking. One of my favorite training exercises, my strategic thinking was so unique, I earned an immediate promotion. My platoon of 35 had to hold a hill against 2,500.
I will share with you some principles I applied then and apply today as I take a small 15 person company to have offices around the country in a down economy.
The mindset to take forward through our discussions of strategy is Humble Audacity. You won't find this principle in any army manual and some may even disagree.
"Surely Patton and MacArthur were not humble," some might say. Maybe. But maybe not.
After all my military training, experience, and studying of people like Sun Tzu in The Art of War, the great Samurai statistician Miyamoto Musashi in The Book of Five Rings, and Carl von Clusewitz in On War I see a simple trend of victory I call: Humble Audacity.
Many people confuse Audacity with Arrogance. They are not even connected. The opposite of Audacity is not Humility. Humility is the opposite of Arrogance.
According to the New Oxford American Dictionary, "Arrogance" means: "having...an exaggerated sense of ones' own importance or abilities." When a commander thought too highly of their capabilities, when they displayed pride, their enemies often stroke at their unseen weakness and defeated them.
Strategically, Humility means to have a sober understanding of your opponents capabilities. If you think your enemy is tougher than he/she really is, and you plan to defeat the more difficult opponent you created in your mind you will win every time.
The New Oxford American Dictionary says that "Timidity" is "to show a lack of courage or confidence. You can have superior resources but if you are scared to use them you will be defeated.
Audacity is "The willingness to take bold risks."
As you look at strategic thinking for your family, your life, your business, your negotiations, or your goals think "Humble Audacity." Have a clear understanding of what you have and what you don't have. Have a clear understanding of the opposing forces. Then be audacious!!!
