Always Play Offense AND Defense, Part III

The Fighter's Corner

So far, we’ve talked about philosophy and process.

We’ve established the mindset of the master technician, the boxer who plays both offense and defense with every move. We’ve built the playbook, the Dual-Purpose Question that forces you to consider both upside and downside in every decision.

But there’s a dangerous illusion lurking in the subtext of everything we’ve discussed. It’s the myth of the solo genius. The lone warrior in the ring, executing a perfect strategy all by himself.

That’s a fantasy. And in business, fantasies get you knocked out cold.

The truth is, no fighter, no matter how brilliant, wins a championship alone. They have a team in their corner. A team that sees the fight from a different angle. A team that patches them up, gives them water, and tells them the hard truths they can’t see when they’re in the center of the ring with the blood pounding in their ears.

The first two articles were about how you need to think. Read them now if you haven’t had a chance yet.

This one is about who you need to think with.

This is about moving from a personal philosophy to an organizational capability. It’s about building your corner.

The Two Fighters You Must Have on Your Team

If you try to be all things at once, the hyper-aggressive offensive visionary and the deeply paranoid defensive tactician, you will fail.

You’ll be pulled in two directions, and you’ll freeze.

The key is not to embody both poles perfectly yourself, but to build a leadership team that represents that tension in its very DNA.

In every great company, you will find two archetypes in a constant, productive struggle.