In an interview in yesterday's Wall Street Journal, Fox News President Roger Ailes makes several references to military strategy and battles as he talks about how he plans to knock off CNBC with his new business channel. Military history seems to be a favorite topic of CEOs. To the extent that business resembles a kind of civilized warfare, it's not surprising that a leader would study famous battles and generals.
Here's Ailes on how he'll overcome CNBC's many resource advantages:
"Well, if you study history, the victories did not always go to the people with the great resources. [Confederate Gen.] Stonewall Jackson seemed to be undermanned in every campaign and won. [Union Gen. George] McClellan had plenty of resources in every fight and lost. That isn't always what matters. It's, well, I'm not gonna tell them what it is."
Recently I bought a 3-DVD Series called "Founding Brothers" about the conception of the United States (Washington, Franklin, Hancock, Adams and the rest of the gang) that deals with extremes from invention to strategies and tactics to military plots and even about the Freemasons and Knights Templars.
Can't wait for the Fedex man.
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