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How to think strategically

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The Art of Strategic Thinking

 

What does it take to be successful in a global market?  Persistence, intelligence and strategy. Learn to think like the most brilliant men in history, how to apply your knowledge and evaluate your progress.  How the most fragile and dangerous aspect of ourselves can destroy us--the ego. This is the knowledge of many, the power of one. 

How do strategic thinkers think? The only way to learn is to study them 

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."

The House of Morgan: An American Banking Dynasty and the Rise of Modern Finance

Amazon Price: $14.96 (as of 10/15/2008)

The Art of War by Sun Tzu - Special Edition

Amazon Price: $13.57 (as of 10/15/2008)

When Genius Failed: The Rise and Fall of Long Term Capital Management

This is probably one of the sexiest books I have ever read in my life! It reads so fast and teaches you about people and egos.

Amazon Price: (as of 10/15/2008)

Greenspan: The Man Behind Money

I strongly recommend this book for any thinking person. It is awesome read and moves quickly. It gives you great insight into one of the most brilliant men of our time!

Amazon Price: $17.50 (as of 10/15/2008)

Did anyone ever say to you, "thank you for sharing with me how wrong I am?" 

Everyone needs to be right and everyone needs to be important.

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!

The 48 Laws of Power (A Joost Elffers Production)

No thinking executive should be without this book. If you don't have it...you are a fool!

Amazon Price: (as of 10/15/2008)

Den of Thieves

Amazon Price: $11.56 (as of 10/15/2008)

The Way to Wealth

Ben Franklin's maxims and precepts are just as valuable today as they were when he wrote them.

Amazon Price: $9.95 (as of 10/15/2008)

The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin: Second Edition (Yale Nota Bene)

History does repeat itself. Learn from one of the most brilliant men in history. I cannot imagine any bright intelligent person does not have this book on their bookshelf.

Amazon Price: $9.95 (as of 10/15/2008)

 

Liar's Poker: Rising Through the Wreckage on Wall Street

Another beauty about the reality of how ego destroys!

Amazon Price: $10.20 (as of 10/15/2008)

Thomas Jefferson : Writings : Autobiography / Notes on the State of Virginia / Public and Private Papers / Addresses / Letters (Library of America)

How can you not be a student of Thomas Jefferson? He was a self-made man. If you study his life, he frees you from all sorts of assumptions about life!

Amazon Price: $23.10 (as of 10/15/2008)

Speak Like Churchill, Stand Like Lincoln: 21 Powerful Secrets of History's Greatest Speakers

Any person who speaks needs to have this book by their side. Every writer should have this book by their side if they want to sound intelligent!

Amazon Price: $10.17 (as of 10/15/2008)

The World Is Flat [Updated and Expanded]: A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century

This is not an easy book to read...but it sure opens your eyes!

Amazon Price: $12.00 (as of 10/15/2008)

Soros: The Life and Times of a Messianic Billionaire

He is incredible man to study. I don't bother with any books that don't teach me something. He is someone to learn from. Study his life and learn.

Amazon Price: $18.15 (as of 10/15/2008)

 

Secrets of the Millionaire Mind

Amazon Price: (as of 10/15/2008)

Shakespeare: A Book of Quotations (Dover Thrift Editions)

Every thinking person should quote Shakespeare. If you don't or can't it puts you a few steps behind in life!

Amazon Price: $2.00 (as of 10/15/2008)

The Art of Worldly Wisdom

HANDS DOWNS...IF YOU BUY NOTHING ELSE..BUY THIS BOOK...IT IS THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT BOOK ON WISDOM!!!

Amazon Price: $12.89 (as of 10/15/2008)

The Four Elements of Success: A Simple Personality Profile that will Transform Your Team

You need to learn who you are and how your interpersonal skills affect you and everyone else. Then you need to figure how to work with them...who are they? This helps you get there.

Amazon Price: $14.99 (as of 10/15/2008)

Primal Leadership: Learning to Lead with Emotional Intelligence

Read and re-read ths book

Amazon Price: $11.56 (as of 10/15/2008)

NOW WRITE ABOUT WHAT YOU LEARN! 

Active learning requires writing about what you learn

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?

Quotable Risk Care Dream Expect Journal

Amazon Price: $14.95 (as of 10/15/2008)

Fine Leather Writers' Journal

Amazon Price: $69.00 (as of 10/15/2008)

Beautiful writing instruments make the writing process a wonderful experience 

Let me know what you think...or just say hello! 

Please don't leave here without commenting. That would be the worst thing of all.

We drive by and see people being murdered, but we never stop and intervene do we? I'm not a passive person. I tell you what I think. If you doubt me, just read me a story titled, I almost killed him on an American flight on the way to Nevis. Here's the link: http://wackymom.blogspot.com/2007/03/i-almost-killed-him.html

The point is...you're killing me if you just drive by.

If you see no value in this lense whatsoever, please take one minute and share your thoughts. We do each other such an injustice when we don't tell each other what we think. That's all I'm asking for.

If you hate this lense and see no value in it tell me. Or, if you have recommendations for me to improve it, I can deal with constructive criticism. I'm 50 years old for goodness sakes! I'm not going to crash and burn. I just want to be the best I can be.

So do me a favor and share your thoughts with me. Tell me how I can get better! If you have suggestions let me know. OK?

Thanks for stopping by and please don't leave without sharing your thoughts with me and I promise to do the same for you if you ask me.

It is the generosity of human spirit that makes all of us greater that any of us could have ever dreamed. God bless you!

Bee bee

This was interesting. Definately will pick up a few of these reads and put some of these practices into play. Thank you

Posted March 21, 2008

CMOE

Nice lens. I just wrote a hub that focuses on strategic thinking. If you get a second you should check it out.

Posted February 22, 2008

CliveAnderson

There is some highly interesting information here. Certainly is a really great lens. Better yet is its usefulness. I'm surprised I've not seen it on the SQUIDOO Zone in my Free Forum. 5 stars

Posted July 22, 2007

<a href=http://moneyshaker.blogspot.com>Adventures In Money Making</a>

Great Lens!
I've read a lot of the books you've mentioned, but I have many more to go. thanks for the list

Posted June 06, 2007

kaunda

hi Evnucci,

Thank You for your "pearls of wisdom", it is just what i needed as i am on a journey to learn to think strategically. I will take your advice and stand on the shoulders of great people to get a better view.

Posted June 02, 2007

evnucci

Henrik,
I really appreciate your message as well. I see you signed up for my feed at careerstrategist. I reccomend signing up for the feed at evnucci.wordpress.com at well. Best of luck to you. Best wishes. Ev

Posted May 01, 2007

evnucci

finance girls, thanks for stopping by and reading my lense.

Posted April 30, 2007

Sangho

I'm busy reading your writings here and there. Just Kidding! I'll keep your saying "Ego destroy people" in my mind. ^^

Posted April 30, 2007

financegirls

hi Evnucci, im really glad I dropped by your lens! This was a great read! Keep posting=)

Posted April 10, 2007

Henrik Lundin

Hi Evnucci, Henrik Lundin here just stopping by, and I wanted to thank you for your kind words about me at my Lens... I looking forward to networking together with you.

Posted April 09, 2007

luckycharms

Welcome to the Entrepreneurs Group. Your lense certainly is interesting and it got me thinking about how I approach things. It is certainly beneficial to anyone including entrepreneurs.

Posted April 05, 2007

New Amazon Plexo 

The Art of Worldly Wisdom by Baltasar Gracian

The Art of Worldly Wisdom by Baltasar Gracian

Probably the great oracle in wisdom...the single g more...1 point

The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene

The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene

Understanding the role of power in the world is cr more...0 points

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evnucci

About evnucci

What makes me an expert on strategy, innovation,  entrepreneurial endeavors? My background is that I'm a serial entrepreneur who's greatest strength is strategy and talent----building high growth organizations!  Ask one my greatest fans....BlackRock

I
worked as an executive for two Fortune 500 companies and successfully
did three starts-ups.   One of the companies I worked for was Johnson & Johnson, where I ultimately ran fifteen companies.

Then I struck out on my own and started my own company which I eventually sold to the industry giant just five years later. 

After a personal family tragedy, I founded a consulting firm
focused on my strengths....talent and strategy and focused on working
with entrepreneurs that were passionate about excellence.  I focused on
helping them build their companies because I couldn't build my own
anymore!    


So I specialized in lift-outs and retained executive search.  Ten years ago when I started working with BlackRock no one knew who they were, today BlackRock is one of the world's largest money managers.  

Others will tell you to run out and get press to buld your business.  I think you need to become an expert
first. I think you need to make lots of mistakes on your own dime and
learn from those mistakes before you profess expertise on anything!  
I'm really good at sharing my mistakes!   And I've made lots of them. 
Instead, I have silently struggled...and I think that's a good thing. 
So do my clients.  So now....I feel pretty good about sharing with the
world what I do know.....because I do know what I don't know and I get
the pie of knowledge! 

What you need to know is how to leverage your assets.  Its how you think, not how to do...that's what I'm about.   

Our
future is knowledge.   Who will the world turn to?  Yes our youth will
have technological capacities we can only dream, but they will need
wisdom to guide them!  

Gear yourself ready for the future.  Become a store of knowledge or find yourself antiquated.    

 

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