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’
S5E10 – Ruth Clare: Courage – and Confidence – through Action
S5E9 – Adam Blum is No Easy Target
S5E8 – Riana Crehan ‘Suffers Well’; From Supercars to SAS Australia
S5E7 – MAJGEN Justin “Jake” Ellwood DSC AM CSC – On Running (an Army Division, the Queensland Reconstruction Authority….and in general!)
S5E6 – Dr. Luana Main – The Good, the Bad and the Ugly of stress and (over)training
@RV31 - Reconciliation, Travel and Reflections on Guests
S5E5 – Rachel Vickery “Don’t Fix Broken – Create Awesome”
S5E4– Creativity Builds Resilience: Artists in Foxholes @fova.org.au
S5E3– Ian Prior: How Professional Athletes Stay In the Arena
S5E2– Dr Rob Barbour: SAS Doctor Out of Africa
S5E1B – Jaz Diab – Special Forces Nuclear Scientist, Nerd and Mum! Part B
S5E1A – Jaz Diab: Special Forces Nuclear Scientist, Nerd and Mum! Part A
@RV30 – The Season 5 Kick Off
Season 5- We are (ALL) back on the cans
Season 5 - And We're Back!
Special Episode- Vale Tim Robertson: Forever the Chronic Overachiever
@RV29 – Events and Reflections: The Year in Review
S4E21- Ben and Tim on the Golds Gym Podcast
S4E20 – Senator David Van – Politics and Conflict, at home and abroad
S4E19 – Brad McIlroy: Beyond the Bali Bombing
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