| Three Military Principles for Great Success | | | | follow-through. In business, when you get an |
| in Business By Tracy Brinkmann | | | | opportunity, you exploit it to the fullest |
| | | | extent possible. If you have a great |
| By growing up in a military environment as | | | | promotional idea or product or service, you |
| well as serving a term in the United States | | | | sell all you can. Press your advantage and |
| Army myself; I was lucky enough to learn that | | | | push through to complete victory. |
| there are a number of principles in military | | | | TEAM-UP The military Principle of Concerted |
| strategy that you can apply to your business, | | | | Action can be compared to the corporate |
| immediately. Principles that can, when | | | | world's principle of synergy. Simply put - |
| utilized, help you to think better and get | | | | Tap and leverage the strengths of your team. |
| better results than ever before. | | | | Your ability to keep the team working |
| | | | effectively and amicably can positively |
| OUT OF THE BLUE The element of surprise has | | | | magnify to its efforts. In addition, your |
| been the key turning point of many 'battles.' | | | | personal knack of working harmoniously with |
| Whether fought on country fields crossing | | | | other individuals is more responsible for |
| borders or in the boardrooms across the | | | | your own success than any other quality |
| country doing the unexpected is a key tactic | | | | |
| to out-flank or upset your competition. | | | | TAKE ACTION NOW Take these actions now to |
| | | | start applying these principles into your |
| OUT OF THE RUT You could also say "Out of | | | | business/personal life: |
| the grave." Because if you think about it, a | | | | |
| rut is nothing more than a grave with the | | | | 1. Review areas of your work/home life where |
| ends kicked-out. Many times doing the exact | | | | you repeatedly encounter frustration. Is |
| opposite of what you have been doing could | | | | there an entirely different way to resolve |
| turn out to be the perfect solution. If you | | | | this situation? Come 'Out of the Blue' with |
| find yourself in a hole, your natural | | | | a new tactic/idea. Get 'Out of the Rut' and |
| tendency might be to keep digging. You might | | | | surprise the situation as well as the |
| even feel the urge to dig faster. But | | | | competition in some way. 2. Identify whose |
| usually the solution is to back out of the | | | | assistance you will need to execute your 'Out |
| rut and go dig somewhere else. So remember | | | | of the Blue' solution or whose support you |
| the first rule of ruts and holes; "If you | | | | will need to get you 'Out of the Rut.' Then |
| find yourself in one…… Stop | | | | doggedly seek out ways to earn their |
| Digging!" | | | | cooperation. |
| | | | |
| FOLLOW-UP Throughout history, great battles | | | | On last note: When seeking out the aid of |
| have been won and then lost because of the | | | | others, keep in mind that everyone's favorite |
| failure of a commanding general to follow | | | | radio station is: WII FM (What's In It For |
| through and complete the victory. A second | | | | Me.) So be sure they understand the benefits |
| military principle that applies to business | | | | to the company, to the department and most |
| is the Principle of Exploitation. It | | | | importantly to themselves! |
| emphasizes the importance of follow-up and | | | | |