Are you the kind of person who likes to underestimate your enemies? I find that to be very bad since it promotes arrogance and ignorance. When we underestimate our enemies, we are trapped in our own illusion. We will fail to observe our enemies properly and ignore sound advice against them.
Overconfidence can be disastrous if you indulge on it. When you underestimate your enemy, you will pay the final price. Many companies were underestimated and they became a huge corporate power after a few years. Many of these companies would never have succeeded if they were not underestimated. Many huge companies ignored many small companies and eventually the roles switched.
The best way to stop underestimating your enemy is to look beyond their appearance. Have a conversation with them. Spy on them. Look at the things they do and the ways they do them. Understand the way your enemies think and where they obtain their knowledge.
Underestimating is like letting a wolf in your farm. Never underestimate and definitely don’t be too overconfident for you will be arrogant and ignorant. When we view ourselves too highly and others too lightly, destruction occurs.
10 Comments
I have never read a post about this topic before - you have summed it all up nicely. Do not be blinded by your own self importance and not respect your competition or enemy, you really need to get to know them and find out what they are up to.
Like the old saying: “Keep your friends close and your enemies closer”.
but what if your worst enemy is yourself ?
Marie- Yep! That’s one of Sun Tzu favorite phrase!
Biz- That opens up a whole new topic!
I’d like to add to that - never take your colleagues/friends/family/etc. for granted, either. You never know when that will come to chomp you on the back too…..
Data points,
Barbara
True Barbara. It is always good to be a little cautious.
What if your enemies are too creepy- I mean really I have enemies the same as everyone else but I really don’t want to be spying on them or keeping them close to me? The farther I can get away from my enemies the better.
This is great advice, in large corporations, I think it is spot on, how can it work in a situation with a co-worker enemy? There is no way that will be allowed, even though we are on the same team, it’s a “threatening” matter of who has more knowledge, as well as a who has more power.
Michelle- There must be a reason as to why they are creepy, so learn about them more (history, background, activities). How many times can you run away from them?
Susie- How did you guys became enemies in the first place? Anyway to undo it (you’re in the same team)!? If not, learn from the friends of the enemies (befriend them first).
I never underestimate anyone. I have the “everyone’s out to get me” complex at times, but thats due to family and friends (or ex-family and ex-friends to be more accurate) who’ve done wrong by me over and over again.
Either way, you shouldn’t underestimate the little guy either, you never know when he’ll be featured on your website promoting the same product you’re selling (long story lol).
Mike, I have that sometimes too! Definitely never underestimate the little guys because you never know if you have to call one of them boss one day!