A colleague once said true power belonged to me in our unit – the one in the corner who schemed.  I wasn’t sure whether to shake my head or laugh.

First, I only sat in the corner once – at the basement of 1 PP with no heat or A/C.  The other times, I was actually placed in the middle of the floor plan.  Next, I’m no schemer.  I took my job extremely seriously, but during downtime played fantasy football (5 teams simultaneously, one even unbeaten) and studied the teachings of Bill Belichick.

I did plan extremely carefully in terms of the Department’s policies and procedures.  A significant part of strategy.

That being said, a lot of strategy is muddling through.  Make it to the next day.  Buy as much time as possible.  Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.  When that happens, muddle.  Like crazy.

This principle shows up in history and individual lives.  In the Battle of Britain where the German Luftwaffe wanted to soften England for invasion, the British RAF fought back hard.  They were strained to the breaking point.   Then suddenly, Hitler decides to suspend his plan to invade.  The Brits eventually bought enough time to regroup and for the US industrial and military juggernaut to enter the war.

A military friend told me about a fellow soldier who was in bad shape and had to be placed on suicide watch.  My friend helped get him through and now he is married with kids.  

One of the British slogans for the war was the oft cited “Keep Calm and Carry On.”

Day by day.  

Get to the next one

Muddle.