Chapter 6: Readiness, Opportunity & Action

In chapter VI in ‘The Prince’: ‘Of new principalities that have been acquired by the valor of the prince and by his own troops’ Machiavelli states among other things that in examining the acts and lives of great men, we find that they got nothing from fortune except opportunity, which gave them the material that they could mould into whatever form seemed best. So these opportunities made these men fortunate, and it was their great abilities that enabled them to recognize the opportunities.

To what extent does Machiavelli’s thought’s apply to the roles and responsibilities of modern leaders from different countries, cultures and trades? Why do some people manage to reach their goals, move mountains, build empires or write history? What characteristics determine the ability to see an opportunity and act on it?

Discover The Mind of a Leader…

Participants:
  Jørgen Vig Knudstorp
  Dame Anita Roddick
  Edward Ashbee
  Marc Soustrot
  Henri Leconte
  Stan Shih
  Pat Boone
  Jim Buckmaster