RULE: “The primary
target of a great general (CEO) is the mind of the opposing general (CEO).”
I discuss elsewhere how, when facing a superior enemy (your competition)
you should grab something they cherish to slow or stop them. Military history provides
many examples of this, one being the final months of the Napoleonic Wars in 1814.
Instead of hitting Napoleon head-on the Allies actually turned away from him and
captured Paris instead. This demoralized the country and forced Napoleon to surrender.
His ability to compete was effectively over.
Any general (CEO) knows a major goal of strategy is to diminish
the enemy’s ability to resist (e.g., to compete in the target marketplace). But
a great general knows destruction can often be avoided. By moving quickly, invisibly,
“marching swiftly to places he is not expected” he can distract and disorient his
lesser opposition causing him to weaken or even abandon key points leading to their
capture.
There are lots of ways to do this. Be creative, maybe a bit audacious.
Ask yourself “How can I get in their way? What can I take that they need? Etc. As
good recruiters we do it by removing a competitor’s key executives. This last move
can have devastating, long ranging results but the same rules apply to real estate,
patents, court action, etc. One of the surest ways to get into your competitor’s
head is to reach out of nowhere and grab something of theirs. The question for you
is simple: “What can I take?”
Think about it...
