Business Genius: force of the will, force of the soul and the force of the Intellect

“By command – the generals qualities of: wise, able to recognize changing circumstances and to act expediently; sincere, his men will have no doubt of certainty of rewards and punishment; humane, loves mankind, sympathizes with others and appreciates industry and toil; courageous, he gains victory by seizing opportunity without hesitation. Strict, his troops are disciplined because they are in awe of him and are afraid of punishment” Sun Tzu

“As the forces in one individual after another become prostrated, and can no longer be excited and supported by an effort of his own will, the whole inertia of the mass gradually rests its weight on the will of the commander: by the spark in his breast, by the light of his spirit, the spark of purposes, the light of hope must be kindled afresh in others: in so far only as he is equal to this, he stands above the masses, and continues to be their master; whenever that influence ceases and his own spirit is no longer strong enough to revive the spirit of all others, the masses drawing him down with them sink into the lower region of animal nature, which shrinks from danger and knows not shame” Carl von Clausewitz

With regards to the subject of qualities or personal characteristics that a General, or a leader for that matter, must possess, I am reminded of a phrase in the pages of The Art of War pertaining to a strategist by the name of Wu Chi who is closely associated with Sun Tzu. It is full of wisdom pertaining to the trivial question on “how to live life?” or “how to become an effective sovereign?” or “how to become an effective General?” or “how to become an effective leader?” The scene depicted was a conversation between Wu Chi and the Marqui Wu, a prince of the Wei state. The prince was boosting the advantages of the region with regards to defenses. Wu Chi, a strategist, answered:

“The virtues of the ruler are far better defense to a state than high mountains and inaccessible cliffs”

This leadership maxim demonstrates its wisdom in so many occasions in history – the circumstances behind the over running of the Germans of the Maginot Line, the failure of the Great Wall of China in defending its frontiers from marauders and trespass of Nomads,  the short lived reign of Napoleon’s empire, the glory that was Rome, the success of the American democracy, the failure of Ferdinand Marcos versus the success of Lee Kuan Yu, his erstwhile Singaporean counterpart, the victory of Mao Tse Tung over Chiang Kai Check, the virtues demonstrated by Manny Villar, Juan Ponce Enrile, Fidel Ramos, John Gokongwei, Henry Sy, and Lucio Tan demonstrated with such devastating effect on their chosen vocations. Vocation is a better term suited for it rather than profession. A vocation lived with vision, mission and passion. It is deeper than profession in the context of level of commitment, the level of competence and the virtues demonstrated by great men; the high level of force in the will and in the soul; a fine penetrating mind that comprehends the various circumstances surrounding their chosen path. 

Clausewitz Qualities of the Genius of war:

Courage is of two kinds; first, physical courage, or courage in presence of danger to the person: and next, moral courage, or courage before responsibility; whether it be before the judgment-seat of external authority, or of the inner power, the conscience

Firmness,  the resistance of the will in relation to the force of a single blow

Staunchness, in relation to a continuance of blows

Self-command, the power of submitting oneself to the control of the understanding; but the power of listening to reason in the midst of the most intense excitement, in the storm of the most violent passions

Strong mind, one which does not lose its balance even under the most violent excitement.

Strength of character,  is denoted tenacity of conviction; Consistent and  difficult to move

Energy in action expresses the strength of the motive through which the action is excited; honor and glory.

Resolution is an act of courage in single instances, and if it becomes a characteristic trait, it is a habit of the mind

Presence of mind certainly denotes very fitly the readiness and rapidity of the help rendered by the mind.

Sun Tzu Qualities of a General:

Wise, able to recognize changing circumstances and to act expediently

Sincere, his men will have no doubt of certainty of rewards and punishment

Humane, loves mankind, sympathizes with others and appreciates industry and toil

Courageous, he gains victory by seizing opportunity without hesitation.

Strict, his troops are disciplined because they are in awe of him and are afraid of punishment

Circumspect, he prefers to win by strategy. 

If you aspire success in your profession or life for that matter, take initiative to assess the virtues your possess and identify those you need to develop. Reflect and discern - are you brave or cowardly? are you reckless or circumspect? are you decisive or hesitant? are you indolent or hardworking? Consistent or inconsistent?  are you wise or ignorant? are you self reliant or dependent on other people? do you have command over yourself or want has command over you? do you have the strength of mind to brave the storm or are you fearful? are you optimistic or negative? are you easily swayed by your emotion with no regard for reason? do you have the resolution for discipline? can you command your body to move in adverse  circumstances sleepless planning sessions? the strength of mind to follow thru on your plans or are you easily swayed by obstacles? 


Part of our divine inheritance is the power to create. By creation, we can re-invent ourselves. Ultimately, we define what kind of life we desire to live.  We can learn and unlearn. As many wise sages once told, "continuous effort is the key to unlocking once potential". "We tend to realize in life what we persistently hold in the thought and vigorously struggle toward" or thought to that effect. It will be a most challenging journey and one must have the determination to surmount whatever sacrifices your dream will demand of you.

Rene Bitara, Prometheus Consultants 

the concept of genius

“the divine insanity of noble minds that never falters nor abates but labors and endures and wait till all it foresees it find and what it cannot find creates” Longfellow.

“every special calling in life, if it is to be followed with success, requires peculiar qualifications of understanding and soul. Where these are of a high order, and manifest themselves by extraordinary achievements the mind to which they belong is termed genius. It is a very difficult task to define the essence of Genius;  we must be allowed to keep to the meaning usual in ordinary language, and to understand by "genius" a very high mental capacity for certain employments” Clausewitz

“War is the province of uncertainty: three-fourths of those things upon which action in war must be calculated, are hidden more or less in the clouds of great uncertainty. Here, then, above all a fine and penetrating mind is called for, to grope out the truth by the tact of its judgment” Clausewitz

“two qualities are indispensable: in the first place an understanding which, even in the midst of this intense obscurity, contains some traces of inner light, which lead to the truth, and then the courage to follow this faint light where ever it may led” Clausewitz

“Then skillful commander is circumspect. He prefers to win by strategy” Sun Tzu

“The supreme excellence in generalship are a clear perception, the harmony of his host, a profound strategy coupled with far reaching plans, an understanding of the seasons and an ability to examine human factors” Sun Tzu

Brushing thru the pages of history, we can find titans and greats in various human endeavors - politics, business, warfare, social and religious movements. They have lighted their century. Carved in stones and subjects of legends and myths – their stories were told centuries and decades after. They have defined the world as we know it. Legends were told about their exploits and their godly feats. As an antagonist or a protagonist in the annals of history, their genius have defined what civilization we have today. Human civilization will never be the same again, our country will never be the same again.

Sun Tzu* Gen. Hannibal Barca of Carthage*Scipio Africanus of Rome*Alexander the Great*Julius Cesar*Alexander Suvaruv of Prussia*Napoleon Bonaparte*Christopher Columbus*Duke of Wellington*Carl Von Clausewitz* Mao Tse Tung*Chiang Kai Check* Gen. George Patton*Winston Churchill* Gen.Dwight Eisenhower*Gen. Douglas Mc Arthur*Abraham Lincoln*Benjamin Franklin* Henry Ford*Bill Gates*Vince Lombardi* Steve Jobs*Jose Rizal*Andres Bonifacio*Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo* *Juan Ponce Enrile*Ferdinand Marcos*Fidel Ramos*John Gokongwei*Lucio Tan*Manny Villar*Henry Sy*Peter Unabia*Rolando Hortaleza*Rosa Gesalem*Marciano Bitara*Richard Camelon

“Lives of great men all remind us
    We can make our lives sublime,
  And, departing, leave behind us
    Footprints on the sands of time;

  Footprints, that perhaps another,
    Sailing o'er life's solemn main,
  A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,
    Seeing, shall take heart again.

  Let us, then, be up and doing,
    With a heart for any fate;
  Still achieving, still pursuing,
    Learn to labor and to wait” A Psalm of Life, Longfellow

We give tribute to this page to the great men who have inspired us.  We honor them for their greatness and for the hope they give us. We thank them for the wisdom they have shared with us. Their lives have re affirmed our humanity. We are, indeed, made in the image and likeness of God.  They have invented and re-invented themselves with relentless determination. Their legacy will be remembered until the end of time.

“footprints” which are subject of our analysis and study in the present time. We seek the mystery behind their circumstances and their humanity. In scientific approach, we pursue understanding of the anatomy of their greatness. We seek to understand how their contemporaries saw their genius as Gen. Hannibal, the scourge of Rome, in the Second Punic War was seen as an antagonist by Roman historians while seen as a hero by his countrymen. Centuries after, we are given the luxury to treat these two perspective with indifference so as to understand the reason for the schemes and shrewdness of the Generals behind the Second Punic War.  Nevertheless, to wage war in enemy territory and stand undefeated is a feat regarded to this day as Genius. 

As Clausewitz proposes, “critical analysis”, which is a much needed competence to achieve victory in warfare,  requires familiarity of history, experience and depth of intellect extending to the realm of the “soul”.  A “fine and penetrating mind” that will invest understanding of history as much as manage a resolute and calm disposition amidst “friction of war”.  Competence is achieved thru experience, knowledge and conceptualization.  By conceptualization, logic and analysis is used to make reasonable conclusions and theories into complex situations the relevant materials for which we find thru experience and knowledge, constructed thru history – how similar situations were handled in the past, cause and effect, consequences of specific practices, best practices - strategies and tactics employed in the past that proved effective. As they say, “wise men learn from others mistake and fools from their own”.  If in the study of history, a student of warfare or business learned that planning an operation is a crucial process in ensuring victory  and as such,  great leaders in history have employed this process with precision to achieve an objective – by logic a student of warfare applies this process to ensure his victory. 

In learning history, our imagination will be defined according to the facts that support the proposition that Genius is as ordinary as we are. As such, it can be pursued realistically. A third world country as ours must aspire for Ingenuity. This is the only path available to a politically and economically challenged country. Strategy and Leadership is the most practical and decisive solution to the load of adversities our country faces. There is a call for Ingenuity in our century. Hero is an over used word and perhaps, obsolete while ingenuity can be found every where. Perhaps, Heroism shares the same principles as the concept of Genius. However, the layman’s understanding of heroism suggests godly virtues too heavy on the shoulder of the regular Filipino. My object in this page is to make the concept of Genius practical and realistic to the average Filipino. The concept of heroism has undertones of taking a bullet while the concept of Genius merely demands day to day measures as commitment to excellence, continuous improvement, pursuit of competence to one chosen field of specialization. While the hero in Rizal was signed by the martyrdom at Luneta, the Genius in Rizal is his ability to create contraptions in Dapitan and Europe despite want and adverse circumstances.

In our own chosen professions, we can aspire for Ingenuity. Commitment to excellence, passion for growth, continuous improvement, product innovation, entrepreneurial strategy formulation, competence development and other initiatives on development – personal, family, community and organization.

The best books have yet to be written. The best business and political generals have yet to be made. The best marketing strategies have yet to be constructed. The best products have yet to be created.

Life is what we make it. 

Rene Bitara, Prometheus Consultants

A personal collection of striking quotes

 

Sales is the end result of the little things we do day in and ay out.

Attitude. Ang taong ayaw maraming dahilan ang taong gusto maraming paraan.

Assume makes an ASS of U and ME. Don’t assume.

You must have long range goals to keep you from being frustrated by short term failures. Noble

Again and again, a problem is solved when we see that the problem is only a tough decision waiting to be made – Robert Schiller

Don’t fear failure so much that you refuse tom try few things. The saddest summary of life contains three description: COULD HAVE, MUST HAVE AND SHOULD HAVE– L Boone

Four steps to achievement: plan purposefully, prepare prayerfully, proceed positively, pursue persistently.

People and rubber bands have one thing in common, they must be stretched to be effective – John Maxwell

Most men exchange their lifetime for much too little. Don’t be afraid to think big – Ben Fieldman

The only thing that stands between a man and what he wants in life is merely the will to try it and the faith to believe its possible – R Devos.

Our glory consists not in every winning but in rising every time we fall.

Rooms for improvement is the largest room in the world.

 Difficulties are meant to rouse, not discourage – Channing

 A gently answer turns away wrath, but harsh words stirs up anger – proverb 15:1

Winning and losing is a perception game. If you think in your mind that you have lost so shall be the outcome of your enterprise.

You can only manage items which you can measure. The need to quantify data.

Management is responsible for 80% of defects and workers for 20% - Dr. Deming, TQM

The hand of the diligent maketh rich – Proverb of Solomon

Rough seas and storms make sailors.- Norwegian proverb.

If you are down, there no other way but up.

We tend to realize in the life what we persistently hold in the thought and vigorously struggle toward – Dr. Marden

 A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty - Winston Churchill

If you want a thing done well, do it yourself – Napoleon

Cowards die many times before their actual deaths – Julius Caesar.

Courage. All our dreams can come true it we have the courage to pursue them.

The journey of a thousand mile starts with the first step. Mao Tse Tung

Determination. It is the size of one’s will which determines success.

Attitude. It is a little thing that makes a big difference. Winston Churchill.

Determination. We will either find a way or make one. Hannibal, Carthaginian General.

The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather lack of determination. Vince Lombardi.

Focus. Continuous effort is the key to unlocking our potential. Winston Churchill.

Tenacity of Purpose. Never, never, never give up. Winston Churchill.

 A champion is someone who gets up even when he cant. Jack Dempsey

 Its not whether you get knocked down; its whether you get up. Vince Lombardi

Success seems to be largely a matter of hanging on after other’s have let go. W Feather

When you reach the end of your rope, tie a knot in it and hang on. Thomas Jefferson.

 If you are going through hell, keep going. Winston Churchill

Resolve never to quit, never to give up, no matter what the situation – Jack  Nicklaus

We all have dreams. To make it a  reality takes an awful lot of  determination, dedication, self discipline and effort. Jesse Owens.

A pessimist complains about the wind. The optimist expects the wind to change. A captain changes the position of the sail.

Teamwork is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results. Carnegie

Individual commitment to a group effort- that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work." Vince Lombardi

No one can whistle a symphony. It takes an orchestra to play it." HH.E. Luccock

A man is but a product of his  thoughts. What he thinks he becomes. Mahatma Gandhi

The great empires of ancient are mere demonstration of the power of teamwork.

Failing to plan is planning to fail. – management proverb

Determination. The rewards for those who persevere far exceed the pain that must precede the victory.

Sustained Initiative. Without excitement in fighting, swords go dull and soldiers become disoriented. Sun Tzu.

When everything feels like an uphill, just think of the view from the top.

Success is not measured by what one brings but by what one leaves.

Work relieves us from three evils – boredom, vice and want.

The future belongs to those who dare to dream.

Success is the sum of small efforts repeated day in and day out.

Courage. Its not where you start but where you finish that counts.

Winning is not everything but making the effort to win is.

If you success does not cost you anything, it’s a daydream. J Maxwell.

Don’t waste your time worrying about things you cannot control. B Howard

Great people are just ordinary people with an extra ordinary amount of determination.

Risk. Some people dream of great accomplishment while others stay awake and do them.

Challenge. Those who say it cant be done are usually interrupted by others doing it.

Fortune favor the bold. Virgil.

My hunger for success is fueled by my passion.

If you are not fired with enthusiasm, you will be fired with enthusiasm. Vince Lombardi

Winning is habit.

I will demand commitment to excellence and to victory; and that is what life is all about. Vince Lombardi

A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way and show the way. John Maxwell

The achievement of an organization are the results of the combined effort of each individual. Vince Lombardi

The best thing I did when I was young was to choose the right hero. Warren Buffet

The only time success comes before work is in the dictionary. Vince Lombardi\

The harder you work, the harder it is to surrender.

It does not matter how many times you get knocked down but how many times you get up. Vince Lombardi

Mental toughness is essential to success.

Confidence is contagious and so is lack of confidence and a customer will recognize both.

The school of adversity graduates the ablest of pupils.

Let the adverse effect of criticism be to you the like wind of the storm is to the eagle, a force that takes it higher.