Strategic Focus

• Do you know the importance of concurrently keeping your mind on the process and your eye on the correct target?
• Do you remember the importance of balancing the strategy aspect and the implementing aspect of the game?
• Can you name how many times you have persisted and persevered over tough odds throughout the course of your life? (When you can remember that, you can "persist and persevere" again and again.)
• Do you remember that there can always be "second and third order" effects for every committed action?
• Can you consistently balance your grand strategic view with your logistical strategy and tactical strategy?
• Do you remember the importance of reviewing your victory or setback after completing a mission?

I am sure that this listing of questions is rather demanding, but it does take a great amount of effort to be a competitive strategist—especially in such chaotic times. Asking and answering some of these questions will give you a clue as to your position in this game called "life."

The Pinnacle of the Consummate Strategist

Q:   So how do you know when you have hit the pinnacle of becoming the consummate strategist?
A:   When you can consistently visualize and create a single long-range mechanism (plan) that is greater than the sum of its components and then execute it effortlessly!

"He who has mastered this art [of war] knows the way of heaven and earth, has the support of the populace, and is fully aware of the enemy situation. When he needs to determine his battle array, he knows how to set up the formations. He fights when there is assurance of victory. He stops fighting when there isn't. Such a commander is a general worthy of his sovereign. … For one who has really mastered the way of warfare, his enemy can do nothing to escape death." --- Sun Bin (the great grandson of Sun Tzu)

Finding Another Perspective in Life

Sometimes in life it is necessary to have another perspective in life. In my case, I would either talk to my inner circle of strategist friends or find it by reading many of the classics. (What is a classic? It's a tightly focused short book with low-page counts that possesses what I consider timeless wisdom.) My former mentor refers to these classics as "super text." From my perspective, there are so many great books out there and so little time to read them all. But it is important to re-read as many of these classics at least once a year.

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