The Prince - Niccolò Machiavelli
I couldn't be more pleased with last week's engagement. I hope people enjoyed the insights and perhaps gained something from the SMARTER goals model.
This week, I'm reviewing Machiavelli - quite controversial for my second book review! I loved it, and the pure honesty displayed in Machiavelli's writing taught me a lot.
For those unfamiliar, Niccolò Machiavelli was a Renaissance-era Italian diplomat who profoundly influenced political theory. Born in 1469 in Florence, he served as a senior official in the Florentine Republic during a time of constant political turmoil in Italy. He wrote "The Prince" whilst in exile after the Medici family was overthrown. The book offers a practical approach to how rulers can gain and maintain power.
For me, this book allowed me to examine my business knowledge and develop some interesting ideas:
Understanding Daily Operations
Machiavelli emphasises putting yourself in a position to observe the day-to-day running of the empire. I agree with this principle - without such oversight, you risk missing important developments in your business that could lead to problems or failure.
Looking beyond present threats two key points stood out:
Don't restrict yourself to dealing with present threats
Use all means to foresee and forestall future problems
In today's ever-changing landscape, failing to address these aspects could make it too late to reverse damage, as there will always be another company or problem to deal with.
A Thought-Provoking Question
I'd love feedback through LinkedIn or email on this question: Machiavelli states, "If you invade a self-governing city, you have to turn it to rubble or live there yourself." Can the same be said for a hostile takeover? You can extract all the ideas, goods, products, and IP and leave the company to rot, or you must install yourself and/or board members to run it under your own company principles.
The Sensible Man and Leader
A sensible man bases his power on what he controls, not relying on others' promises or goodwill, as these can be risky and unstable.
A sensible leader cannot and must not keep their word if doing so puts them in danger. This isn't advocating for dishonesty, but rather acknowledging that breaking promises may be necessary for the greater good of yourself, your family, or your company.
Finally, a ruler must never imagine their ideas are permanently safe. In the business world, constant change means that anything considered "safe" is likely to fail.
Additional Insights
One valuable lesson from "The Prince" is to follow in the footsteps of someone great - even if you don't reach their level, you still acquire some of their qualities or ideas.
Important advice for everyone: ensure you have people by your side. When times get tough and there seems to be no way out, you'll have to persevere, and this is much easier with support around you.
Quote of the Book
“Prepare for the storm while the weather is fair”
I just think this is so profound, and it is now my lockscreen on my phone as I try every day to prepare for that storm that is bound to come.