The 50th Law (with 50 Cent)

Understand: Any phenomenon in the world is by nature complex.
The people you deal with are equally complex. Any action sets off a
limitless chain of reactions. It is never so simple as A leads to B. B will
lead to C, to D, and beyond. Other actors will be pulled into the drama
and it is hard to predict their motivations and responses. You cannot
possibly map out these chains or get a complete handle on
consequences. But by making your thinking more consequential you
can at least become aware of the more obvious negative consequences
that could ensue, and this often spells the difference between success
and disaster. You want depth of thinking, to go to several degrees in
imagining the permutations, as far as your mind can go.
Often, going through this process will convince you of the wisdom
of doing nothing, of waiting. Who knows what would have resulted in
history if the conspirators had thought this out and chosen to wait
until Caesar died naturally or in battle?

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While this mode of thinking is important for individuals, it can be
even more crucial for large organizations, where there is a lot at stake
for many people. In any group or team, put at least one person in
charge of gaming out all of the possible consequences of a strategy or
line of action, preferably someone with a skeptical and prudent frame
of mind. You can never go too far in this process, and the time and
money spent will be well rewarded as you avoid potential catastrophes
and develop more solid plans.
2. Tactical hell.
You find yourself embroiled in several struggles or
battles. You seem to get nowhere but you feel like you have invested so
much time and energy already that it would be a tremendous waste to
give up. You have actually lost sight of your long-term goals, what
you’re really fighting for. Instead it has become a question of asserting
your ego and proving you are right. Often we see this dynamic in
marital spats: it is no longer about repairing the relationship but about
imposing one’s point of view. At times, caught in these battles, you feel
defensive and petty, your spirit drawn downward. This is almost a sure
sign that you have descended into tactical hell. Our minds are designed
for strategic thinking—calculating several moves in advance toward
our goals. In tactical hell you can never raise your perspective high
enough to think in that manner. You are constantly reacting to the
moves of this or that person, embroiled in their dramas and emotions,
going around in circles.
The only solution is to back out temporarily or permanently from
these battles, particularly if they are occurring on several fronts. You
need some detachment and perspective. Get your ego to calm down.
Remind yourself that winning an argument or proving your point
really gets you nowhere in the long run. Win through your actions, not
your words. Start to think again about your long-term goals. Create a
ladder of values and priorities in your life, reminding yourself of what
really matters to you. If you determine that a particular battle is in fact
important, with a greater sense of detachment you can now plot a more
strategic response.
More often than not you will realize that certain battles are not
worth it in the end. They are a waste of valuable energy and time,
which should be high on your scale of values. It is always better to walk
away from a circular battle, no matter how deeply you feel personally
invested in it. Your energy and your spirit are important
considerations. Feeling petty and frustrated can have reverberating

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consequences for your ability to think strategically and reach your
goals. Going through the process delineated above in the Keys will
naturally elevate your perspective and put your mind on the strategic
plane. And in life as in warfare, strategists will always prevail over
tacticians.