The Real Con: a classic perspective

“Books serve to show a man that those original thoughts of his aren’t very new after all.” - Abraham Lincoln

It feels like many industries nowadays are undergoing major structural change – higher interest rates have changed the real estate world for owners and borrowers. Artificial intelligence continues to leave a mark on many industries from computing, to finance, to accounting. Global migration patterns and government regulation have created fundamental shifts both in demand and in how we work. 

But regime change is not new. In fact, it is critical for us as individuals to adapt to change. If we do not adapt, we are unable to survive. We are unable to thrive. It is not the strongest who survive. It is those who are most willing and able to adapt. Regime change in the US has been part of our history since the beginning. In fact, change is a part of any life that is well lived. You should change and grow as you age and experience life. 

“ a man who procrastinates in his CHOOSING will inevitably have his choice made for him by circumstance.” - Hunter S. Thompson, American journalist and author

Sometimes forces beyond our control cause our circumstances to change. Just in the last 20+ years we have had the rise of inflation, the rise of interest rates, the shuttering of global economies, the great financial crisis, multiple wars on several fronts…you name it. 

Learning to adapt is a skill that must be practiced. You must know how to adapt before you are required to adapt.

As the Spartans arrived in Thermopylae to defend Greece from the invading Persians, they were told:

“Because of the arrows of the barbarians it is impossible to see the sun.” 

The Spartan reply was simple as the warrior noted, 

“Won’t it be nice, then, if we shall have shade in which to fight them?”

Forever finding ways to adapt to change. It is a notion that is lost in our modern comforts. You may lose power temporarily. You might lose connectivity with the internet. You might be without transportation. How can you best adapt?

The Spartans knew how to always seek an advantage. Their unbeatable mindset was a direct result of the depth and breadth of their preparation. They trained hard so they could fight easy. Does that mean they won every battle? Of course not. But they showed up with the belief that they were going to win.

Plutarh in his writing documented another Spartan anecdote:

When someone else said, “They are near to us,” he said, “Then we also are near to them.”

Warriors exist in many cultures, ancient and modern. Carrying a shield, a spear, or any weapon does not make a warrior. It is the attitude, the heart, and the mind that make a warrior.

When someone said, “Leonidas, are you here to take such a hazardous risk with so few men against so many?” he said, “If you men think that I rely on numbers, then all Greece is not sufficient, for it is but a small fraction of their numbers; but if on men’s valour, then this number will do.”

While life may seem challenging today, we must remember to ground our frame of reference. We need to remember our history. We need to search the depths of the classics. Seeking perspectives beyond our own allows each of us to discover solutions we would not normally consider. 

"...happiness depends more upon the internal frame of a person's own mind—than on the externals in the world" - George Washington

As the Commander in the Colonies’ war for Independence, George Washington lost more major battles than he won. He found himself constantly retreating. He worked with an army that was barely trained, almost always starving and constantly ill-equipped. Despite the problems and disadvantages, Washington defeated the most powerful army of his day. He knew:

"It is infinitely better to have a few good Men, than many indifferent ones." - George Washington, Letter to James McHenry, August 10, 1798

We have no excuse not to learn from our experiences. But we would be short sighted to ignore the experiences of those that have come before us. Information is abundant, yet knowledge and wisdom are scarce.

Quantitative analysis is everywhere yet many workers, organizations, and industries suffer from a qualitative disadvantage. 

Jack Bogle, the Founder of Vanguard, called it too much counting and not enough trusting.

In 1791, George Washington wrote to his niece,  "...it is better to offer no excuse than a bad one."

To deal with change, it helps to have a philosophy of life. A path to follow. A WAY of living. A roadmap to handle when nature or life drive you off course. Miyamoto Musashi knew that he needed “Rules for putting martial arts into practice.”

Whether you are a swordsman from 15th Century Japan or a modern day worker, these rules (and others throughout history) still apply today.

    1. Think without any dishonesty.

    2. Forge yourself in the Way.

    3. Touch upon all of the arts.

    4. Know the Ways of all occupations.

    5. Know the advantages and disadvantages of everything.

    6. Develop a discerning eye in all matters.

    7. Understand what cannot be seen by the eye.

    8. Pay attention to even small things.

    9. Do not involve yourself with the impractical

To be a good teacher, you must be a good student. To adapt to change, you must be open to change. To prepare for change, you must practice change. 

“As Plato says, people cannot be good leaders unless they have been good servants.” - Plutarch, Moralia, Vol. X

Regime change whether in global economies or in your own corporate department is inevitable. Regardless of the forces acting within your industry, you have the ability to adapt with a classical perspective. What are you doing to develop your perspective based on your own history and the history of others?

Stay sharp,

Michael

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The Real Con

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