A SOSI Member writes:

I am having a strategy problem. I have found a man who could bring considerable resources to my biz in terms of money and ideas. He was very enthus about working with me but now it seems like he has stalled. Nothing is moving forward and I am starting to think he may have his hands too full to worry about me. The question is why do I always find myself depending from someone else performing and if I don't get the result expected I get ridden with anxiety. Can you point me towards an article that can help me?

Situation: A reader writes:

A reader writes:

We can all agree that conflict is wasteful. But what if the competitor starts the conflict? If their attack produces a dissipating situation, you have said that there is no good defense and that the correct response is to attack what the competitor values. Doesn't this escalate into the conflict we wish to avoid? How do we actually avoid conflict (or wars of attrition) if attacked? Is this what has happened between Google and Microsoft? Regardless of how this battle began, how can either side defend properly against further attack?

Everyday, we read articles on the business battle between Google and Microsoft (click here for today's installment). This battle illustrates the elements of the most common strategic mistake: the waste of resources on attacking opponents ([node:content/313-conflict-cost link]) instead of working on pursuing opportunities ([node:content/32-opportunity-creation link]).

"They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety." Benjamin Franklin

Feel free to replace the word "safety" with anything else that politicians pretend that they can offer in exchange for your freedom: medical care, housing, environment protection, jobs, funds for your pet project, and so on.