Vusi
October 19th, 2004, 01:25 PM
Lesson 8 - Know the Battlefield (better than the enemy)
Shaka believed that you must understand all the forces against you, and if you do, you will avoid being surprised by the enemy. Shaka would win a battle by understanding the battlefield better than the enemy. Nowhere did Shaka show his skill better than in the battle of Qokli Hill against Zwide. Shaka realized that because he was hopelessly outnumbered by Zwide's army, he had to decide promptly where the battle would be fought. He set out with his close generals and studied every hill, hillock and anthill around the area where the battle would be fought.
By the time Shaka got reports from his spies that Zwide's army had been observed on the move, he knew every nook and cranny of the hilly area around the uMfolozi River. Two days before Zwide's army could arrive at the banks of the uMfolozi River, Shaka pointed out a battle spot, the hill called Qokli. And indeed, a few days later, the unthinkable happened. Shaka's small army used Qokli Hill and the overflowing uMfolozi River to its advantage, and defeated Zwide's army.
Yes, your enemies have more weapons than you, but you must study their every move. As you join the battle to build your business or career, you must understand every angle of the battleground. You must understand every bend in the road, for there are many perils. When you do, nothing can stop your advance.
You must study your marketplace - your clients and your competition. If you understand the people who will be buying your product better than the enemy, you will win this battle:
- Know your industry - investigate, read magazines, use the Internet.
- Don't hesitate to consult other companies in your industry. Make use of "peer viewing."
- Outsource where necessary to remain competitive and to pursue excellence.
- Stay in touch with your market. Do complete market research -- conduct surveys, get feedback from customers and clients.
- Participate in ethical competition. Do not succumb to the "sandbox mentality" - to fight like a toddler in trying to keep every toy for yourself.
- Communicate with your employees. They might know more than you give them credit for.
- Know everything there is to know about your trade, and keep up with the latest developments in your field.
- To win in the marketplace, being different is the key. Opportunities are waiting to be discovered, but we have to look in undiscovered places - places where our competitors have not already been.
- Knowledge is the new battlefield for organizations. To function, and in the long run to survive, you need to be knowledgeable in your field. Information is power, when carefully organized and deployed - and it cannot be stopped. Keep up your pursuit of knowledge!
Leadership Lessons from Emperor Shaka Zulu the Great Written by: Phinda Mzwakhe Madi
This is the eighth of ten timeless nuggets of wisdom from the motherland to help us strengthen the Virtual Black Community today. I look forward to sharing with you and hearing from you...as we make the 'NET WORK for you!
Shaka believed that you must understand all the forces against you, and if you do, you will avoid being surprised by the enemy. Shaka would win a battle by understanding the battlefield better than the enemy. Nowhere did Shaka show his skill better than in the battle of Qokli Hill against Zwide. Shaka realized that because he was hopelessly outnumbered by Zwide's army, he had to decide promptly where the battle would be fought. He set out with his close generals and studied every hill, hillock and anthill around the area where the battle would be fought.
By the time Shaka got reports from his spies that Zwide's army had been observed on the move, he knew every nook and cranny of the hilly area around the uMfolozi River. Two days before Zwide's army could arrive at the banks of the uMfolozi River, Shaka pointed out a battle spot, the hill called Qokli. And indeed, a few days later, the unthinkable happened. Shaka's small army used Qokli Hill and the overflowing uMfolozi River to its advantage, and defeated Zwide's army.
Yes, your enemies have more weapons than you, but you must study their every move. As you join the battle to build your business or career, you must understand every angle of the battleground. You must understand every bend in the road, for there are many perils. When you do, nothing can stop your advance.
You must study your marketplace - your clients and your competition. If you understand the people who will be buying your product better than the enemy, you will win this battle:
- Know your industry - investigate, read magazines, use the Internet.
- Don't hesitate to consult other companies in your industry. Make use of "peer viewing."
- Outsource where necessary to remain competitive and to pursue excellence.
- Stay in touch with your market. Do complete market research -- conduct surveys, get feedback from customers and clients.
- Participate in ethical competition. Do not succumb to the "sandbox mentality" - to fight like a toddler in trying to keep every toy for yourself.
- Communicate with your employees. They might know more than you give them credit for.
- Know everything there is to know about your trade, and keep up with the latest developments in your field.
- To win in the marketplace, being different is the key. Opportunities are waiting to be discovered, but we have to look in undiscovered places - places where our competitors have not already been.
- Knowledge is the new battlefield for organizations. To function, and in the long run to survive, you need to be knowledgeable in your field. Information is power, when carefully organized and deployed - and it cannot be stopped. Keep up your pursuit of knowledge!
Leadership Lessons from Emperor Shaka Zulu the Great Written by: Phinda Mzwakhe Madi
This is the eighth of ten timeless nuggets of wisdom from the motherland to help us strengthen the Virtual Black Community today. I look forward to sharing with you and hearing from you...as we make the 'NET WORK for you!