Posts tagged Moscow
How Far Would You Go To Solve A Problem?
Dec 2nd
(a business lesson from September 14th 1812)
Unknown German artist. The French in Moscow. 1812. 1820s. Oil on canvas.
On September 14th 1812, the Russians set fire to Moscow in the face of Napoleon Bonaparte’s troops. The governor of Moscow herded out the majority of Moscow residents and burned almost 80% of the city.
Just as a reminder to all non-historians…this began the demise of Napoleon’s reign. This action not only permitted Russia to defeat Napoleon by forcing a debilitating retreat back to France, but it also began the demise of the Grand Armee of France.
Vasily Vereshchagin. The Return from the Petroff Palace. 1895. Oil on canvas. Historical Museum, Moscow, Russia.
The point of this is… what happened on this date should make us all think about what we in the business world would sacrifice to win.
