Victory!

T+D, Feb, 2003 by David Sandt Corderman

By Brian Tracy

Applying the Proven Principles of Military Strategy to Achieve Greater Success In Your Business and Personal Life

Brian Tracy

Directed at business leaders looking for a unique spin on traditional advice, Victory by Brian Tracy aims to teach readers how to benefit from the lessons learned in military combat. Descriptions of various battles, combined with inspirational quotes from military leaders, serve as the basis for advice on professional or personal improvement.

Penned in the oft-applied manner of many current bestsellers, the book uses 12 principles to serve as chapter themes. The insights gained from the "12 Principles of War," suggests Tracy, can be applied to business and personal endeavors. The themes are supported by relevant examples and appropriate quotations. The effective use of alternative typefaces emphasizes the relevant points. The main ideas, which relate to business and personal growth, are tied to and supported by combat experiences.

Tracy is an accomplished individual who has put together a credible read, one that adds to an already impressive list of professional accomplishments. Victory is recommended reading for people interested in improving their business acumen and personal well-being. Military history and military affairs buffs will also find this book of interest.

The 12 chapters delineate what Tracy believes are the most important principles of war. The chapters, further divided into short sections a half-page to one-page each, describe battles, offer advice, or give ideas readers can relate to their personal or professional lives. Though somewhat choppy, the layout provides short bits of valuable stand-alone information.

Tracy uses examples ranging from the pre-Christian to modern eras, from Alexander the Great's defeat of the Persian army to the current war in Afghanistan. Though the depth is limited, the examples successfully illustrate the 12 principles, such as the Principle of the Objective, the Principle of the Offensive.

Tracy defines each principle, which will help readers unfamiliar with military strategy and jargon understand the concepts. The definitions are set off so they're easy to spot. Each principle is edified through military examples, and at the end of each chapter Tracy describes how readers can apply the principle to improve business or grow professionally.

The book isn't remarkable for any one battle or one principle. Its impact comes from the juxtaposition of historical references with advice on improving personal power, wealth, and business acumen. That's best demonstrated in the chapter on the Principle of Mass, in which Tracy begins with a quote from Napoleon about "dispensing with nothing if you must fight a battle" and continues with a brief description of the Battle of Isandhwana, in which the British were defeated because they divided their forces. That chapter ends with a discussion on how to mass forces for sales and profitability in business.

The one criticism I'd levy is that some information is repetitive, but Tracy may have intended for each chapter to stand alone.

Victory isn't a book to be read in one sitting. It's better used as a tool that should be marked and read repeatedly. Because of the quantity and quality of the ideas therein, readers should carry it around and revisit it frequently or use it in conjunction with an audio program they can listen to on their commute to work.

Many of the chapters encourage readers to take pen in hand and write down their goals and dreams. The book's lesson is that by writing and rewriting about what you want to become and focusing on a main purpose, it's possible to achieve or become anything.

Tracy says, "If you think and act like a leader--if you learn the qualities and behaviors of great leaders and you apply them in your daily life--you will inevitably evolve and mature into a leadership position in whatever you do." He says that in order to become successful, an individual needs to focus on what other successful people do, whether in a business or personal setting.

Recommendation

I'd rate this book as excellent and place it on a list of books that should be read. It's well written and well edited and can be digested in small bits. It can also be used as a learning tool for self-improvement and leadership, with many valuable insights into personal growth and self-mastery As such, it's a credible reference that can be used repeatedly for inspiration and as a guide to remain focused on self-development. It's highly recommended reading for anyone serious about improving his or her professional situation or quality of life.

Victory!: Applying the Proven Principles of Military Strategy to Achieve Greater Success in Your Business by Brian Tracy. Amacom. 304 pp. US$24.95

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David Sandt Corderman is a supervisory special agent for the FBI Academy's leadership development unit; dcorderman@fbiacademy.edu.

Guest Books reviewer and FBI agent-U.S. Marine David Corderman, who has participated in sniper and assault missions "in defense of the rights and freedoms of U.S. citizens at home and abroad," balked at describing his shower curtain. "Can't even go there. After all, I'm a federal agent."