How to think strategically

Albert Einstein said, "the only thing that interferes with my learning is my education." So the question is do you need to graduate from the finest institutions in the world to be a brilliant strategic thinker? Not!

However, strategy is a studied art....think about chess and war!

Have you ever been to Monticello? Thomas Jefferson was one of the most brilliant men in the 18th century because he read. At his home in Monticello is the most incredible library you will ever see. He was self-taught. And Benjamin Franklin was self-published.

To think strategically you have to read, but not everything. You have to know what and whom to read.

As Einstein said, "Small is the number of people who see with their eyes and think with their minds. Information is NOT knowledge..........the distinction between the past, present and future is only a stubbornly persistent illusion."

So what does that mean? The majority of people take their past, and put it into the present. However, if you understand history and study the world's greatest minds, then you can move yourself out of the present into the future.

In other words, these are the steps to learn how to become an innovator, a futurist, someone who can help change the world....either by your products, your services, your writing, or your websites. Whatever niche it is that you serve in the world enhance your strategic process by learning what and how brilliant strategists think.

Learn how brilliant people have fallen....how ego and greed destroyed them.

Again, as Einstein so eloquently put it, "The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits."

I love history. If you read it, it actually teaches you something. One of our great founders is also one of our greatest teachers.

As Benjamin Franklin became more famous and brilliant over the years, he became increasingly overbearing in the social circles of Philadelphia. When engaged in discourse at social gatherings, he thought nothing of telling his verbal adversaries how wrong they were about a particular subject. Benjamin was always right. Finally one of his dear friends pulled him aside and said,

"Benjamin, you are becoming a bore. Many of our friends have a difficult time with you at parties. Do you realize you humiliate them?"
"What do you mean?"
"You tell everyone how right you are and how wrong everyone else is."
"Well I am right and everyone else is wrong."
"Benjamin, that may be. However, do you believe that is anyway to maintain friends? Do you think people want to be around someone like that?"

Benjamin withdrew socially for some time. Finally prepared with verbal armor, Benjamin reemerged ready to reclaim his position in Philadelphia society. At the next party, when Benjamin was asked to share his thoughts on a particular subject he said,

"You may be right, I may be wrong, I frequently am, however.......

and the crowd erupted in laughter caught off guard by his disclaimer.

For the rest of Benjamin Franklin's life, he used that line, which disarmed his audience.

Interpersonal skills are key to strategic brilliance! Without them....you aren't going anywhere!

While you read, you need to have a writing journal next to you..write down the words you don't know and look them up. Write down the thoughts that strike you as interesting. Write down anything that comes to mind.....this is how you begin to construct a strategic mindset. Without writing what you read about....how can you become aware of your own thought process?