Beyond Brushstrokes
By Maria Victoria Rufino
In love and war, timing is everything.
The wise general knows when to fight and when to retreat. There are occasions when he has to decide to lose a small battle in order to win the big war.
Strategic retreat does not signify total surrender or defeat. It can give the leader and his troops some valuable time — for tactical panning to succeed in the final confrontation. It could give the enemy a false sense of security and cause him to slide into complacency.
Struggles for supremacy occur on all levels of life and for many reasons — institutional, political, professional and personal. Power, ego, prestige, recognition, money and love are the important and sensitive areas of competition.
The corporate battlefield is the arena of many interesting encounters. The titans, known to be ruthless masters of strategy, plan and execute their attacks with cold-blooded cunning and precision. Corporate raiders take calculated risks and strike when logistical conditions are favorable. During a skirmish, a pragmatic leader is realistic enough to know when to continue fighting or when to cut his losses and concede. Thus, he can conserve vital resources and energy for the other clashes to achieve victory.
The desire and ambition to be number one, or first among equals, is a compelling force. Colleagues compete for recognition in the industry. Peers fight for promotions within the corporation. Senior executives aspire for the ultimate trophy — the CEO post with glory and all its perks.
The climb to the top is a long, arduous process. It is a lifetime goal. Unless, by a sudden twist of fate, one is catapulted to a lofty position of power and fame.
History has proven that power or the perception of power is seductive, beguiling, heady and addictive. Once attained, it is not easy to relinquish. Even when it is time to do so.
Maria Victoria Rufino is an artist, writer and businesswoman. She is president and executive producer of Maverick Productions.
