There’s a set of strategy maxims that get passed around Pentagon powerpoints, Greek history textbooks, and business school seminars which can be considered platitudes of the field. I think they probably boil down to about a dozen guidelines—I’ve gotten them down to fifteen here, but think good synthetic work could manage single digits.
- Don’t tilt (keep emotions under control).
- Stay legible to allies.
- Stay illegible to enemies.
- Pay attention.
- Model other players.
- Keep a step ahead.
- Evaluate outcomes honestly.
- Learn from errors.
- Watch for patterns.
- Resist social pressure.
- Keep the big picture in mind.
- Triage.
- Do not constrain yourself by trying to simultaneously solve side problems.
- Don’t confuse means and ends.
- Ends justify means (be pragmatic).
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