You made me break out my copy of the Art of War, haven't done that in a bit. When I first read the quote I thought it was a rephrasing of "If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle." I'm still not sure if it is, the sentiment seems to be the same, albeit more nuanced, but I'm not worried enough about to reread the whole thing. You wouldn't happen to know which chapter your quote is from would you?
I prefer to operate solo or with small groups of people who know what they're about and don't need anyone to tell them what to do. I guess that still fits your definition of leadership, never really thought of it in those terms before. Ownership, discipline, effort, those things I've always thought of as showing initiative rather than leadership, although I suspect that they're just two sides of the same coin.
I suspect people often conflate giving orders with leadership, which might explain some of the people saying they're not leaders. There's a saying, 'before you can lead you have to learn how to follow,' I feel like that is an important part of the know thy self and a big part of what distinguishes good leadership from bad.
*Random side note, did you know that Niccolo Machiavelli (of The Prince infamy) also wrote an 'Art of War' book?
To be honest I don't know the exact context of the quote snipper, like you it's been some time since I read the book...Bloody hell, now I have to go read it again.
Leadership, in one aspect simple is initiative. I have seen those not in positive of leadership take and show initiative and lead others to great things...and themselves.
People take the word leadership and turn it into finger-pointing, giving orders, entitlement and the like...Sure, it can be that, but it's so many other things besides. Most p poor have no clue what a real leader looks like as opposed to a leader in name only or one of those pathetic political creatures or managers people have. A title doesn't make a leader.
I learned something about Machiavelli today...more research needed now. Thanks man!
Hey, at least it's a quick read.
I saw a lot of that in 2020 at the protests here, ordinary people who'd never thought of themselves as leaders stepping up and doing stuff because it needed to be done and inspiring others to do the same.
Amen.
I learned about that by accident, included The Art of War on a christmas list one year and didn't specify Sun Tzu and ended up with Machiavelli's instead. It's not as timeless as Sun Tzu's but is still and interesting book. My pleasure!
You mention the protests...a perfect example of ordinary people leading. No differing than the person who stops to assist someone with a broken down car or being attacked...Leading happens all around us, all the time.
G-dog has some bookdepository.com orders to make. Thanks man. ✅