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Hey 👋🏼
We recently just studied Napoleon Bonaparte’s strategies and tactics and this edition contains exactly that.
Let’s not waste time get right into it 👇
(Psst… We would REALLY appreciate some feedback at the bottom) 🤫
Napoleon Bonaparte
His life
Napoleon was born on 17th August, 1769 and died on 5th May, 1821.
During his lifetime, he was probably the MOST productive person in Europe.
Here are just some of his accomplishments:
He was an extremely successful military commander. The likes of which Europe had never seen before.
He wrote over 36,000 letters in his lifetime (probably much more)
He was responsible for many reforms in France, including the establishment of of centralized government and the creation of the Napoleonic code (A set of civil laws used as a foundation in many countries today)
He was responsible for tons of major construction projects in France including canals, roads, bridges, etc.
Napoleon fought over 80 battles, losing only about 11.
He did all of this while facing tons of challenges and constantly being outnumbered and outright outgunned.
So what actually made him so GREAT 👇
Compartmentalization
Napoleon had this unprecedented ability to control his thoughts. Here’s his own description:
“Different subjects and different affairs are arranged in my head as in a cupboard. When I wish to interrupt one train of thought, I shut that drawer and open another. Do I wish to sleep? I simply close all the drawers, and there I am — asleep.”
He used this ability to put all of his thoughts in order.
When he was handling politics, he would “open” the politics drawer in his mind and concentrate 100% of his attention on it.
This way, he would bring up all the relevant details and ideas from the depths of his mind to make the best decision.
He may have appeared as a great multi-tasker, but he was doing the exact opposite - uni-tasking.
So… How do you compartmentalize?
It’s as simple as opening ONE drawer in your mind at a time. Work on one task at a time and stop “mind-switching”
But here’s a bonus tip you’d find offending
Stop consuming short form content
Napoleon could concentrate on a task for hours on end. But this ability could be contributed to the technology at the time.They didn’t have TikTok, or any short form content we have today and that’s why they could hold their attention on a certain task (almost) forever.
Short form content is ruining your attention span and your ability to compartmentalize your thoughts. Stop consuming it.
His Philosophy
Coronation of Napoleon
“Impossible is a word to be found only in the dictionary of fools”
He was constantly pushing boundaries, and his men to do better.
Like Steve Jobs, he had a Reality Distortion Field which allowed him to persuade his fellow generals and men.
He even knew the names of low-rank soldiers when he was commander.
You can check out our course on Reality Distortion at the bottom of this newsletter
Knowledge is Power
Napoleon was a voracious reader and a relentless learner.
Acquiring knowledge gives one the ability to out think and out manuver his opponents.
Strive to know everything going on around you. Using information is extremely powerful in this age when inactivity is abundant.
“A man who doesn’t read is no better than a man who cannot read”
Finally… HIS WORK ETHIC
Napoleon was probably the hardest worker in Europe.
He would often work late into the night, forgetting to eat his supper.
When he ate, he spent no more 20 minutes per meal, often having business meetings while eating.
He constantly pulled 18 hour workdays
His life purpose was his work. He loved what he did was not afraid to sacrifice mundane tasks which, he would delegate to his trusted generals.
Some extra sips 🥤
“Nothing is more difficult, and therefore more precious, than to be able to decide.”
“There are but two powers in the world, the sword and the mind. In the long run the sword is always beaten by the mind”
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