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“Stop discussing how serious the problem is, and get serious about finding an immediate solution to it.”
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Terry Mark
Ok.
This is a business lesson from September 14th 1812.
…………. burning of Moscow …….
.
The beginning of the lesson?
On September 14th 1812, the Russians set fire to Moscow in the face of Napoleon Bonaparte’s troops.
Yup.
The governor of Moscow herded out most of the 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.
The point of this is… well … how far would you go to solve your business problem?
What happened on this date should make us all think about what we in the business world would sacrifice to win.
Look.
Do you imagine there was consensus in this Moscow discussion & decision?
Okay.
So.
Can you imagine the first guy who stood up and said “hey, I have an idea, how about we purposely burn Moscow so they can’t have it?” (of course all said in Russian, probably after several liters of vodka, to the Czar and probably a couple of Cossack bodyguards … who have some very sharp swords)
Someone had some kahones. And I hesitate to believe many people in today’s business world have that type of kahones.
The tough decisions are … well … tough. And they are even tougher when your survival is at stake.
So would you be willing to burn your burn your business to win in the face of overwhelming odds?
Ok.
What ARE you willing to do to win?
Heck.
Maybe most importantly.
When you look at your situation do you even recognize how desperate your situation is?
<remember … someone in Russia recognized, and had the balls to say something about, the fact they were about to get their ass kicked>
The business landscape is strewn with the wreckage of businesses that did not envision their own demise.
Next.
Someone “stepped out of the box” with a solution. Ok. They actually stepped ‘into the box’ and said … “let’s destroy the box.’
And let’s be clear.
I have to imagine neither of these points, as stated above, were popular, well-received nor accepted as a “so what do we do” type of moment.
Anyway.
One of the most difficult things a company can do is address their situation in the market.
In general I believe most companies and businesses are pretty good at assessing their situation in the marketplace. I, for one, have been in a number of those types of meetings where everyone sits down and honestly assesses the difficult position they are in.
I also have been through too many meetings where that same business just isn’t willing to do what it takes to resolve the situation.
Hey.
I am not suggesting this is an easy discussion (but at least we don’t have Cossacks with really sharp swords standing around us while we are discussing what to do).
So.
Are you willing to put 80% of everything you have up in flames to win?
I guess it depends on whether you believe the situation merits it. And that is a toughie for sure because we are certainly a country and group of optimists and in general we always believe there is a positive horizon. And burning ‘the city’ isn’t necessary.
But.
What if it is?
Would you recognize it?
Would someone in your group recognize it?
Oh.
And if someone did would you listen?
Look.
I don’t have the answers. And I am not suggesting every situation demands “burning the city.”
But.
This date in history reminds us that sometimes extreme situations demand extreme solutions.
In the end?
Keep your eyes open. And keep your mind open to solutions.
Sometimes the extreme solution, while scary, is the right solution.