A lot of organizations and individuals will set some aim for themselves, and then, when they reach the point where they should be seeing progress, but don't, seem surprised that things haven't worked out the way they hoped. They shouldn't be surprised, my guest would say, if they never had a strategy in place for reaching their goals. 


His name is Stanley K. Ridgley, he's a former military intelligence officer, a professor of business, and the lecturer of The Great Courses course, Strategic Thinking Skills. Today on the show, Stanley explains why strategy, whether implemented in business, the military, or your personal life, is so important when it comes to dealing with uncertainty, making decisions, winning competitions, and getting to where you want to go. He first explains why following "best practices" is not the same thing as following a strategy, and how real strategy is a cycle of mission-setting, analysis, and execution that never ends. He unpacks what strategic intent is, and why it's so important to be clear on yours. We then discuss two main approaches to strategy — cost leadership and differentiation, and why you need to adopt the latter in your own life, and stop treating yourself like a commodity. We also get into why indirect attacks on competitors can be more effective than frontal assaults, where people go wrong when it comes to the execution of their strategy, and the role that intuition plays for the master strategist. We end our conversation with what you can start doing today for five minutes in the morning to get closer to your goals. Along the way, Stanley gives examples from both war and business on how the art of strategy works in the field.

The Art of Manliness

#722: Think More Strategically

Why do some people who look can’t-miss high-achievers on paper end up floundering in life, while those who can seem like underdogs end up flourishing?

When my guest noticed this phenomenon while being involved in the selection process of veteran SEALs for a specialized command, it led him to the discovery that beneath more obvious skills are hidden drivers of performance, which he calls attributes. His name is Rich Diviney, and he’s a retired Navy SEAL commander and the author of The Attributes: 25 Hidden Drivers of Optimal Performance. Today on the show, Rich discusses the difference between skills and attributes and how the latter can’t be taught, but can be developed. We then talk about the difference between peak and optimal performance, before turning to the attributes which drive the latter. We get into a discussion of the components of grit, the difference between discipline and self-discipline, why you should become something of a humble narcissist, and much more. We end our conversation with how to figure out the attributes you are and aren’t strong in, and which you need for getting where you want to go.

Resources Related to the Podcast
AoM Article: The 6 Types of Grit (And How to Develop Them)
AoM Podcast: The Hell-Raising Leader of WWII’s Filthy Thirteen
AoM Podcast #675: The Humble, Narcissistic Leader
AoM Article: How to Develop Situational Awareness
AoM Article: Being Decisive
Sunday Firesides: Self-Discipline for What?
Connect With Rich Diviney
The Attributes Website

#738: The Character Traits That Drive Optimal Performance

Narcissism is something that looms large in our cultural consciousness. We accuse friends and family of being narcissistic, think we observe the quality in politicians and celebrities, and wonder if society is becoming more self-absorbed over time.

But what is narcissism, really, once you get beyond the pop cultural conception and colloquial buzzword? My guest will unpack that for us today. His name is W. Keith Campbell, and he’s a professor of psychology and the author of The New Science of Narcissism. Keith explains that narcissism centers on an antagonistic sense of entitlement and self-importance, that there are actually two types of it — grandiose and vulnerable — and how the latter can actually underlie seeming cases of anxiety and depression. We then discuss what causes someone to become a narcissist, whether narcissism has increased in younger generations, and when narcissism tips over into an outright personality disorder. Keith explains how narcissists are attractive early on in a relationship, but lose their shine over time, and how, in a similar manner, narcissists readily emerge as leaders, but then often struggle to hold onto their position and power. We then get into the relationship between narcissism and social media, and how to get the benefits of narcissism — which isn’t entirely a bad thing — while mitigating its downsides.

#769: The New Science of Narcissism

หลักการลงทุนและการบริหารของปู่ Warren Buffett แบบเข้มข้น #14

8 1/2 EP1088 - M&A ที่แย่เกิดจาก CEO นิสัยไม่ดี ?

Activists are tired of waiting for governments and companies to act on climate change. So increasingly they’re taking the matter <a href="https://www.economist.com/international/2022/04/23/lawsuits-aimed-at-greenhouse-gas-emissions-are-a-growing-trend?utm_campaign=a.io&amp;utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&amp;utm_source=theintelligence&amp;utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&amp;utm_term=sa.listeners" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">to court</a>—with success. Egypt’s leaders claim the country is open for business, but the army has a <a href="https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2022/04/21/why-egypt-isnt-open-for-business?utm_campaign=a.io&amp;utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&amp;utm_source=theintelligence&amp;utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&amp;utm_term=sa.listeners" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">growing stranglehold</a> on the private sector. And even the trails up Mount Everest are being <a href="https://www.economist.com/asia/2022/04/16/the-fallout-from-europes-war-reaches-the-himalayas?utm_campaign=a.io&amp;utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&amp;utm_source=theintelligence&amp;utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&amp;utm_term=sa.listeners" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">affected</a> by the war in Ukraine.For full access to print, digital and audio editions of The Economist, subscribe here <a href="http://www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer</a> &#10;&nbsp; <hr>See <a style='color: grey; ' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for privacy and opt-out information.

Strong suits: climate litigation

Amsterdam Coffee Shop Jazz Music: Restaurant, Cocktail and Lounge Bar

Sweet Jazz

Panelet snakker om siste uker handler, traderen demotiveres av falske fallforventninger, Monkeypox, berg- og dalbane i DOF, Sveaas med storgevinst i Solstad, over-the-top strategi, resesjon eller ikke?, volatilt marked og fallende konsumenttillit, sterk REC-utvikling, rykter i Hunter, nervehelg, live krysstrading og ukens favoritter. Episoden er sponset av CFD-megleren Skilling – besøk www.skilling.no

Flipping, Lykkeland og Over-the-top

In today's episode, Andy answers your questions on how leaders should communicate when leading different personality types, what's the best way for couples to support each other's individual goals, and how small companies can compete against larger companies in the same sector.

314. Q&AF: Leading Different Personality Types, Couples Supporting Each Other & Competing Against Larger Companies

G-spänst online:
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/g-spanst

#738: The Character Traits That Drive Optimal Performance

The Art of Manliness

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