The Art of the General
-Or, How to win before going to war.
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Think.
Last week I mentioned the three levels of warfare, strategic, operational, and tactical. This month we’ll be looking at applying these concepts to achieve our biggest goals. But first, let’s explain the terms:
Strategic: It is said that strategy is the art of the general. Our strategic goal is our ultimate aim. In WWII our strategic goal was to use every resource available to defeat the Axis powers.
This is the destination we are headed for. We’ve got to know where we are going before we set out, because, as Yogi Berra said, “If you don’t know where you’re going you’ll end up someplace else.”
Operational: Operational goals are the intermediate steps taken to reach the strategic goal. An example was Operation Torch, the first major US involvement in the North African Theatre.
We didn’t just decide that it would be cool to attack Morocco. The decision to launch the operation was based on the belief that its success would force a change in the allegiance of the Vichy French, and coupled with the Brit’s push through Egypt, would squeeze Hitler out of North Africa. The operational objectives supported the strategic aim.
Tactical: Operation Torch was made up of countless tactical actions. From the first US parachute insertion of the war to the amphibious landings to the countless skirmishes in the streets and souks.
The difference is that in North Africa, each soldier didn't need to understand how the levels of warfare were nested within each other, we do.
We need to think like a general and fight like a sergeant.
Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory.
Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat.
Sun Tzu
I have coached tactically brilliant people who could set goals and achieve them, and in doing so they achieved a good degree of success. This is like the infantryman shooting Nazis. As the propaganda of the day told us:
But eventually, you will run out of easy targets. Tactics without strategy will only get you so far.
Read. The Hiking Dutchman
A great (short) read if you love dogs and have fantasies of hiking through Mongolia.
Write.
Rather than providing a journal prompt this week I wanted to give an update on my forthcoming memoir, Tough, Rugged Bastards. We are still looking good for an August release.
The book will be available for pre-order on Amazon in the near future and will be distributed by Simon & Shuster and available wherever fine books (and also regular books) are sold.
In the near future I will be providing an option to preorder personalized autographed copies.
This week I received comments back from my editor Robert. I am in the process of working my way through those. The final manuscript will be vastly improved with his input.
Hopefully I’ll be able to show the cover soon.
Repeat.
Words of wisdom from those who said it best.
“Without strategy, execution is aimless. Without execution, strategy is useless.” —Morris Chang
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See you next Thursday!
Good thoughts Ranger. Pretty cool stuff. Thank you!
Great post as always. Reading this reminded me of Seneca's quote, "If one does not know to which port one is sailing, no wind is favorable." Over the last five years I've shifted the way I work through this lens. I always ask myself, "why am I doing this?" If I can't answer the question then I need to start asking better questions.
I can't wait for the pre-orders to drop for your book. Exciting times.