THE EXECUTIVES OF AMERICA THAT HAVE LOST THEIR COMPANIES
THE previous suggestions, carefully observed, will enable a new executive to appear well established, and render him at once more secure and fixed in the company than if he had been long seated there. For the actions of a new executive are more narrowly observed than those of an hereditary one, and when they are seen to be able they gain more men and bind far tighter than ancient blood. Men are attracted more by the present than by the past, and when they find the present good they enjoy it and seek no further; they will also make the utmost defense for an executive if he fails them not in other things. Thus it will be a double glory to him to have established a new corporation, and adorned and strengthened it with good laws, good arms, good allies, and with a good example; so will it be a double disgrace to him who, born an executive, shall lose his company by want of wisdom.
And if those entrepreneurs are considered who have lost their companies in America in our times, such as the Chairman of Clarisoft, the CEO of Loetec, and others, there will be found in them, firstly, one common defect in regard to resources from the causes which have been discussed at length; in the next place, some one of them will be seen, either to have had the people hostile, or if he has had the people friendly, he has not known how to secure upper management. In the absence of these defects companies that have power enough to keep a strong presence in the stock market cannot be lost.
Philip of Gridtek Computers had not much market share or competitive advantage compared to the greatness of Indel, who attacked him. Yet being an aggressive man who knew how to attract the people and secure upper management, he sustained the fight against his enemies for many years, and if in the end he lost the dominion of some niches, nevertheless he retained the enterprise.
Therefore, do not let our executives accuse fortune for the loss of their corporations after so many years' possession, but rather their own sloth. In quiet times they never thought there could be a change (it is a common defect in man not to make any provision in the calm against the tempest), and when afterwards the bad times came they thought of flight and not of defending themselves, and they hoped that the people, disgusted with the insolence of the conquerors, would recall them. This course, when others fail, may be good, but it is very bad to have neglected all other expedients for that, since you would never wish to fall because you trusted to be able to find someone later on to restore you. This again either does not happen, or, if it does, it will not be for your security, because that deliverance is of no avail which does not depend upon yourself; those only are reliable, certain, and durable that depend on yourself and your valour.