« Alertpay Euro Banking withdraw | Home | Earn on Santa with affiliate programs »
Napoleon and online business
By acca | December 3, 2007
What we can learn from Napoleon Bonaparte and use in internet business?
The most important thing is memory. In France, not only I knew all my officers names, but I knew every moment where are they and I knew how every one of them thinks.
In internet business, you have to know your associates, your regular costumers, forum moderators, regular blog commentators, … Everyone who is associated with your online business.
First condition in leadership is to stay calm. You can’t be too excited with good news nider too depressed with bad ones. I could hear someone very close to me was dead and no one could see nider one change on my face.
In business, emotions can be very destructive, too. On internet, you have a chance to disconnect and go for a walk when something very bad or very nice happens. Relax offline, think several times, don’t rush with reactions. Emotions are not good leaders. Take a chance internet gives you to slow down and think before react.
Before Napoleon Bonaparte attacked Egypt, he studied Egypt people, culture, he read Kuran. He ordered French officers to respect Muslim culture and their people. And he succeed.
You can’t sell hard core mp3 music and sports equipment on same website template. You can’t attract hip-hopers in online community if you don’t know anything about their culture. You can’t run hi-tech blog if you don’t know what’s important to hi-tech fans. You will not sell too many The Heroes t-shirts if you didn’t watch The Heroes.
In his memoirs,
Napoleon Bonaparte wrote about 6 principles he followed. Use them on internet
1. Accuracy
To be aware of situation. See the essence. Think and analyze. Use your experience. Look at the big picture. Do research. Study your old projects. Identify risks. Plan, plan, plan. Modify plans in every next phase.
2. Speed
Force is weight multiply with speed. You are slow only if you are weak. Be fast but don’t rush. Rush is speed without planing. Make resistance low. Remove barriers. Focus on main goal. You can’t have more than one priority at the time. That can ruin your speed.
3. Flexibility
Always be ready for changes. Prepare backup for every important situation. Think what you will do if some of your resources is gone. Be ready to change every resource you use. Investments, web hosting, associates, information resources, you must prepare replacements for all that, just in case.
4. Simplicity
Simple is the best. Simple goals. Simple messages. Don’t waste time on complicated solution if you can ask someone who «Been there, done that». Plan simplest approach you can. If you are too complicated and someone can be confused - he will be confused. When you make the rules, use «less is more» approach.
5. Character
Integrity is very important. Don’t talk about this and do that. You need to stay calmed. Don’t panic on bad news. Don’t overreact. Think about all the facts before develop some theory. Leader must be responsible person. Praise your associates in public and criticize them in private. Don’t ever stop learn. Be aware you can always be better, and try to be.
6. Morality
Order is the first element of morality. If you are leader you must lead. Be the first. Two things move people – interest and fear. Interest brings us moral and fear can destroy it. Every one of your associates must feel important. Napoleon made logotype for his army – eagle. That was one of important things gave sense of community members to all soldiers. People love awards. Use that tool if you can. And you can, you just have to find the way. Let this post be award to my blog readers now 
Topics: thoughts, business, internet |
December 5th, 2007 at 10:05 pm
it’s a nice info, I like napoleon. He have a good reputation as a nation builder for france, and as an europe’s culture builder.
December 10th, 2007 at 1:02 pm
Glad you liked the post. Yes, we can learn a lot about building management from Napoleon.