Commander's Intent
Purpose, Key Tasks, & End State
This is the eighth in a long series of posts focused on the idea that Life is War.
I’ve been getting a lot of questions on strategy. I have said that it is important to set our strategic aim first. This is the mountain peak on the far horizon that you are moving towards, and where you hope to be in 5-50 years.
This is where some people have a problem. They can’t imagine a world that far in the future. It is like staring out into the fog. Beyond a certain point, everything gets hazy.
In combat, we call this the Fog of War. It is what Clausewitz meant when he said, “Everything in war is very simple, but the simplest thing is difficult.”
This is understandable, yet it is still not a reason to forego a strategic aim.
The War of Life is fought pretty much uphill. There will, of course, be times when you will step off a cliff and wind up lying broken at the bottom. In those cases, you have the option to give up, or to pull yourself up and continue fighting.
There will also be victories where you fight your way to the top of a hill. Enjoy them briefly, then look around and realize that another tougher hill awaits you in the offing. This is where you change your socks, take a drink of water, then get up, check your azimuth, and get back in the fight.
The force that allows you to pick yourself up when knocked down and to get back to your feet and keep moving forward when you don’t feel like it is your strategic aim.
Defining the War
That’s why the first step is to define the war you are fighting. Your long-term goal for yourself. It could be specific, like starting your own consulting business, or it might be a bit more hazy, like building a healthier lifestyle, mastering a new skill, or changing careers.
And if you still have no clue, it can be as simple as committing to putting yourself in the best position possible to attack when you figure out what your strategic aim is.
Regardless, this overarching objective gives purpose to your efforts and serves as your “Commander’s intent.”
Your commander’s intent provides your Purpose, Key Tasks, and End State.
Purpose: Your Why. Why are you fighting in the first place?
Key Tasks: These will become your Operational Objectives.
End State: This will tell you when you have accomplished your Strategic Aim. This is the time to celebrate briefly, then find a new point on the horizon to set off for.
It is important to keep in mind that the enemy we are fighting is ourselves. A key concept in this stage is identifying the enemy’s center of gravity, the core of your internal “enemy’s” power. This is the critical vulnerability that, if neutralized, would cripple the enemy’s ability to resist. This might be a core negative belief like “I’m not good enough,” “I can never achieve the things I want”, or it might be a deep-seated fear of failure.
Identifying, attacking, and defeating this critical vulnerability is your first operation. Once you have defeated it, there will be cascading positive effects on future fights.
More next week
Until then, Keep Walking Point,
John
If you've read my book, Tough Rugged Bastards, thank you for helping make it a bestseller. I would appreciate it if you would leave an honest review on Amazon. Thanks!
Another Fire post, just in time for spring change! I always get refueled and rekited when I read these. Thank you for keeping is on a swivel John!