BUILDING LEADERSHIP
You cannot know in advance what human capital investments will hatch leaders. The method I use to build organizations is the same: make a lot of bets, and make few judgments, other than to support evidence successes no matter how small and abandon failures that cannot be saved.
Source date (UTC): 2018-11-10 21:22:00 UTC
We have made an idea. We are building a thought leadership, and with it, a movement.
Source date (UTC): 2018-11-10 21:01:00 UTC
https://donaldrobertson.name/2018/11/10/now-enrolling-stoic-mindfulness-and-resilience-training-smrt-2018/https://donaldrobertson.name/2018/11/10/now-enrolling-stoic-mindfulness-and-resilience-training-smrt-2018/
Source date (UTC): 2018-11-10 20:16:00 UTC
In working through a strategy, which I usually do while just walking around, driving, listening to others, or writing, I do not shy from unethical and immoral options any more than I do moral or costly options. Once you find a solution the problem lies only in finding a solution that is not UNETHICAL or IMMORAL. This is the problem with moralizm. You limit yoru scope of conception. Or, you are too weak of character to eliminate the unethical and immoral choices until you find an amoral or moral means of achieving the same end.
Source date (UTC): 2018-11-10 12:02:00 UTC
THE NORMAL WORLD VS THE ABNORMAL HIGH TRUST WEST
—“Japanese are basically as irreciprocal and asymmetric as jews – but with a twist. In that, while they don’t like cheating, defrauding, lying, and stealing, etc. that would cause retaliation, they are always asking the question “is it good for japan?” the way jews ask “is it good for jews?” India does that too – the question is always “is it good for india? And they are very clear on ingroup vs outgroup in everything – and not just race, but family. There are different pronouns for things like mother, father, our company, your company, etc. depending on how you are talking to and your relative position. The Vietnamese language is same way. In vietnam its blatantly clear that everything inside is from your fathers side: patriarchy.”– James
Source date (UTC): 2018-11-10 08:35:00 UTC
When I negotiate in a hostile environment I take the position of holding the moral high ground and ‘stay on message’ creating evidence of a narrative of holding the moral high ground. Most of the time we are punished or sued for honest errors, and get away with our most dishonest and immoral plans. The secret of legal success is holding the moral high ground and betting that the jury will side with you for doing so. I usually go all in and risk the jury. When my peers (board) disagree with me, they lose. Always. I never do a deal where I think I might get sued where I can’t construct a narrative of holding the moral high ground. And the secret is … largely, because you always try to actually do so. its simply the optimum business strategy. There will always be people who think your errors are plans, and don’t see the immoral plans you either did or didn’t take. But build a reputation for never surrendering, favoring litigation, and holding the high ground and it works.
Source date (UTC): 2018-11-10 08:29:00 UTC
When I want to “kill”a company (cause it to collapse) I try to recruit people with grudge, or at least make relationships with people in the company who have a grudge. Every company does something or other totally innocently that is illegal. Then I construct a narrative of intent, and spread it. Then I get insiders to conduct a lawsuit. I have done this a half dozen times. Why? People are selfish and proud and easily provoked to revenge, even at high cost.
Source date (UTC): 2018-11-10 08:23:00 UTC
When I want to buy an overpriced company I open locations or offices or sales teams at its fringes. Most companies cannot tolerate a 20% decline in sales. If you can cause a 20% decline in sales you can cause an 80% decline in purchase price. Mostly because talented people will flee to you. This is why you want free capital, and not to create too much debt or take too much profit. Most companies extract rents and profits and debt to the point where you can’t use capital to extract high ratio wins through acquisitions of people, operations, and customers at windfall discounts. The number of long established companies I have bought this way would astound you.
Source date (UTC): 2018-11-10 08:21:00 UTC
So, when I want to buy a company, I raid it’s second tier staff first. Then have the purchasing, marketing, and sales people spread rumors of trouble. Gossip spreads like mad. There are always people that are looking for the next step up. Give it to them. Use the intel. Raid. Establish Relations. Buy the Company. You would think it wouldn’t work, but it depends on how you handle it. The principle problem organizations face is that very few people in any organization provide the talent that maintains competitive positioning. Talented people want to work for smart people who they can learn from, and achieve more by working for or with. If you catch those people, then the people who worked for and with them follow. Then the customers follow, then the company can be acquired at a discount. I have done this so many times that I can’t remember. I have built my companies largely through organic growth not acquisition, but I have built the staff largely through key recruiting and acquisition – because talent follows talent.
Source date (UTC): 2018-11-10 08:18:00 UTC
( I can’t afford to “woo” women without getting myself in trouble one way or another. So I am just complimentary with all of them – as my mother taught me to be. And following her advice, “Find something nice to say” is pretty much good advice all the way around. It’s just absolutely necessary for women and merely helpful for men. 😉 )
Source date (UTC): 2018-11-10 08:12:00 UTC