Page 134 - Executive Warfare

EXECUTIVE W ARF ARE

skills were a bit lacking, but he was clearly the hare in the race. And I was
the tortoise who just kept building a group of highly capable people and
getting results. And when the time
came, I’m sure it was a tough decision
IF YOU NEED THE
for the powers-that-be, but Clark lost.
ABILITIES OF A
He was clearly angry. So I just left
FORMER RIVAL
him alone for three months, except to
AND WANT TO
ask his opinions and treat him respect-
HANG ON TO THE
fully.
PERSON, DO NOT
After awhile, he realized that, at age
BE STUPID. GIVE
52, he’d probably gone as high in his
HIM RESPECT.
career as he was likely to go. This is not
unlike an aging Major League pitcher
realizing,“Gee, I can still throw the ball at 90 miles an hour, but for some
reason, they can hit it now.”And Clark made a personal decision to accept
that reality gracefully.
So he came around, and he was great.
That’s the thing about real rivals. The best of them are as impressive as
you are. Don’t forget it when you’re running against them, and don’t for-
get it when you win.

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