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’
S1E15a- A Tale of Two Andrews – Two Federal Politicians / But No Politics! Andrew Hastie (MP) and Andrew Leigh (MP)
Special Episode- SAS Leadership with Ben Pronk and Tim Curtis (via Life on the Line Podcast)
@RV5- ANZAC Day, Life on the Line Interview, Sabine Bird, Simon Bailey and Leanne Barron and Questions from Listeners
S1E14- Leanne Barron- When Home is a Battlefield- Combatting Domestic Violence
S1E13 - Simon Bailey- Ordering Your House, Communications and Life!
S1E12- Sabine Bird- World Champion Endurance Cyclist - It Takes More Than Just a Bike
@RV4- Questions from Listeners, Clients and from Ben.... and a Quick Quiz
S1E11- Jason Semple- The Strength of the Thin Blue Line
@RV3 - Questions .... and Reflections on the Brigadier Rupert Hoskin and Rod Bridge Episodes
S1E10- Nick Caldwell- Building Elite Performance- From the Weight Room to the Board Room
S1E9- Rod Bridge - On Loss, Courage, Bravery and Growth
S1E8- Brigadier Rupert Hoskin, AM - Preparing Junior Leaders for the Battlefield
S1E7- Tim Jack Adams- No Nonsense Mindfulness- How's Your Battery?
@RV2- Questions from Listeners
S1E6- Elizabeth Armstrong- Solving the Insoluble: Up Close with Myanmar's Wicked Problems
S1E5- Mission is Nothing. Intent is Everything
@RV1- Questions from Listeners
S1E3b- Leadership is a Contact Sport- & Here's Your Mouthgard!
S1E3a- Leadership is a Contact Sport- & Here's Your Mouthguard!
S1E2- Dr Dan Pronk, The Average 70kg D*ckhead
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