Three Military Principles for Great Success in Business

By growing up in a military environment as well as serving a term in the United States Army myself; I was lucky enough to learn that there are a number of principles in military strategy that you can apply to your business, immediately. Principles that can, when utilized, help you to think better and get better results than ever before. OUT OF THE BLUE The element of surprise has been the key turning point of many 'battles.' Whether fought on country fields crossing borders or in the boardrooms across the country doing the unexpected is a key tactic to out-flank or upset your competition. OUT OF THE RUT You could also say "Out of the grave." Because if you think about it, a rut is nothing more than a grave with the ends kicked-out. Many times doing the exact opposite of what you have been doing could turn out to be the perfect solution. If you find yourself in a hole, your natural tendency might be to keep digging. You might even feel the urge to dig faster. But usually the solution is to back out of the rut and go dig somewhere else. So remember the first rule of ruts and holes; "If you find yourself in one...... Stop Digging!" FOLLOW-UP Throughout history, great battles have been won and then lost because of the failure of a commanding general to follow through and complete the victory. A second military principle that applies to business is the Principle of Exploitation. It emphasizes the importance of follow-up and follow-through. In business, when you get an opportunity, you exploit it to the fullest extent possible. If you have a great promotional idea or product or service, you sell all you can. Press your advantage and push through to complete victory. TEAM-UP The military Principle of Concerted Action can be compared to the corporate world's principle of synergy. Simply put - Tap and leverage the strengths of your team. Your ability to keep the team working effectively and amicably can positively magnify to its efforts. In addition, your personal knack of working harmoniously with other individuals is more responsible for your own success than any other quality TAKE ACTION NOW Take these actions now to start applying these principles into your business/personal life: 1. Review areas of your work/home life where you repeatedly encounter frustration. Is there an entirely different way to resolve this situation? Come 'Out of the Blue' with a new tactic/idea. Get 'Out of the Rut' and surprise the situation as well as the competition in some way. 2. Identify whose assistance you will need to execute your 'Out of the Blue' solution or whose support you will need to get you 'Out of the Rut.' Then doggedly seek out ways to earn their cooperation. On last note: When seeking out the aid of others, keep in mind that everyone's favorite radio station is: WII FM (What's In It For Me.) So be sure they understand the benefits to the company, to the department and most importantly to themselves! Think Successfully & Take Action. Tracy http://www.SuccessAtlas.com (C) Tracy Brinkmann 2000-2005 all rights reserved