Leadership Competency #1

Thinking in Essentials - 2/8

NOTE: This module draws from my earlier work under Black Market Leadership. The ideas here predate Chaos Studies in Leadership and form the foundation that made this work possible.

This video introduces thinking in essentials through the Battle of Gaugamela (331 BC). Facing a vastly larger Persian force, Alexander the Great did not attempt to counter every threat or match strength with strength. Instead, he identified the single decisive factor—the enemy king—and focused all effort there. By targeting Darius directly, Alexander collapsed the entire Persian army despite overwhelming odds.

The lesson is not about tactics, but about cognition. Effective leaders cut through complexity by identifying the one element that truly matters and acting decisively on it. This historical example sets the foundation for understanding essentials: clarity over noise, focus over overwhelm, and precision over brute force.