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May 15, 2014 at 12:00 AM
Some businesspeople attend college to advance their careers. And then there are those, such as businessman and author David M. Smith, who go to infantry school.
“The Army provided me with more fun and interesting experiences and principles than college. Most students in MBA programs nationwide will never have that military experience.”
Here Smith shares 5 of his essential principles of winning:
1. Play offense. Defense alone cannot win. Many have attempted to build “impregnable” defenses to repel invaders, but none has succeeded. In both war and business, victory demands offensive action.
2. Fall back as a last resort. If defense is the only option, fall back with a plan (and while continuing to fire upon the enemy). The best defense is offense.
3. Know your FPL. Know what your last-ditch option is, known in the military as FPL, or “final protective line.” Your FPL will call for you to deploy every weapon in your arsenal.
4. Launch a counterattack. If you can return to an offensive position right away, do so. You don’t want to stay in an undesirable position, so gather your forces together and counterattack.
5. Make sure you’re adequately staffed. Having enough troops is essential. Military strategist or middle manager, you need to marshal your resources wisely. In the civilian world, this may mean avoiding purchases outside your budget.
