Business is a brutal battlefield.
For Ben and Tim it’s their second battlefield.
In an episode requested by listeners, Ben and Tim reach deep into their camouflaged knowledge banks all the way back to their time at the ‘College of Knowledge’ (The Royal Military College (RMC)) – as they take a look at the applicability of the Principles of War to the corporate environment.
As is mandatory for all lessons at RMC, they outline some Carl von Clausewitz theories before examining each of the ten Principles of War and how they can assist the campaigns we now mount on the ‘second battlefield’ – the cutthroat and unforgiving world of business.
As a special bonus, we even throw in an eleventh, unsanctioned (but, we think, very relevant) Principle of War.
And along the way, we suffer through Ben misquoting numerous dead generals and failing miserably in his attempt to recite the Role of the Infantry.
Enjoy!
Intelligence Summary (INTSUM)
1:28 – Some fun facts on Carl von Clausewitz (1780-1831) can be found here: https://www.clausewitz.com/mobile/faqs.htm
6:42 – Ben unsuccessfully tries to demonstrate knowledge. The correct reference was Horst Ritter and Melvin Webber coined the phrase ‘wicked problems’ in 1973, in their seminal work Dilemmas in a General Theory of Planning. Sounds dry, but it’s actually a great read: http://www.sympoetic.net/Managing_Complexity/complexity_files/1973%20Rittel%20and%20Webber%20Wicked%20Problems.pdf
9:00 – Richard Thaler was the 2017 recipient of the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Science for his research into behavioural economics: https://www.chicagobooth.edu/faculty/directory/t/richard-h-thaler
20:41 – Ben is pretty much wrong again. Von Moltke was a student of Clausewitz rather than a peer….
27:39 – William H. McRaven, Spec Ops: Case Studies in Special Operations Warfare: Theory and Practice. A precis of the key concepts McRaven proposes in this book is contained here: https://www.amazon.com/Spec-Ops-Studies-Operations-Practice/dp/0891416005
28:13 – The Australian 2ndCommando Regiment’s motto is ‘Foras Admonitio’, Latin for ‘Without Warning’: https://www.army.gov.au/our-people/units/special-operations-command/2nd-commando-regiment
31:36 – More information on Robert Heinleincan be found here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_A._Heinlein
32:49 – Again, Ben throws out another half-cocked, only semi-correct reference – it was actually General Omar Bradley who said ‘Amateurs talk tactics. Professionals talk logistics’
S2E21a- Wayne Jones: ex SAS Sky God and Rockstar turned ASX CEO
S2E20- Understanding Meditation with the Expert- Gary Gorrow
@RV19- On Beth Eggleston, Dr Linda Monshizadeh, Kim Martens & More on the SAS Selection Course
S2E19- David Olney: More Blind Insights on Collaboration & Battlefield Innovation
S2E18 – Turning Troubled Boys into Good Men with Rick Pedley-Smith
S2E17 – On Parenting with Steve Biddulph, AM
S2E16 – Understanding Complexity with Dave Snowden (Comfort in Chaos and Uncertainty)
S2E15- Phil M Jones: Using Words for Influence and Impact (ie = ‘Sales’ (is not a dirty word))
S2E14- Kim Martens: Surviving High Risk Environments from KFC to Karrada!
S2E13 – The Beauty from Within - Dr Linda Monshizadeh, Plastic Surgeon
S2E12- Beth Eggleston- The HAG! The Humanitarian Edition.
@RV18- David Olney, Dr Kate Baecher, Tempus Fugit Double Episode and Life on the Line Special
S2E11- Against Life’s Odds: ‘Fugit Inreparabile Tempus': (It Escapes, Irretrievable Time) - Matt Williams, OAM is 'Willy Beating Cancer'
Special Episode- SAS Leadership Volume II: with Ben Pronk, DSC and Tim Curtis (via Life on the Line Podcast)
S2E10- Against Life’s Odds: ‘Tempus Fugit’ ('Time Flees') - Tim Reynolds
S2E9- Dr Kate Baecher: Clinical Psychologist. Developing High Performance Mindsets
S2E8- David Olney: Blind Insights on Violence and Complexity
@RV17- Voices about the Veterans from Voices of Veterans- ANZAC Day 2020
Special Episode- Voices of Veterans on ANZAC Day 2020
@RV16- On Mark Wales, Alec Torelli, Mitchell Martin, Dianna Nguyen ... & Embracing the Virus (Another Isolation Edition!)
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