The fate of every common mercenary

The fate of every common mercenary

A?mercenary, sometimes?also known as?a?soldier of fortune?or?hired gun, is a private individual, particularly a soldier, that joins a?military conflict?for personal profit, is otherwise an outsider to the conflict, and is not a member of any other?official?military. Mercenaries fight for money or other forms of payment rather than for political interests

Below are some historical facts, taken from the book I am currently reading. You may find some parallels in the current corporate world also. I am saying 'may' because I want you to draw conclusions.

Sometime in the Middle Ages, a mercenary soldier saved the town of Siena from a foreign aggressor.

How could the good citizens of Siena reward him?

No amount of money or honour could possibly compare in value to the preservation of a city's liberty.

The citizens thought of making the mercenary the lord of the city, but even that, they decided, was not recompense enough.

At last, one of them stood before the assembly called to debate this matter and said, "Let us kill him and then worship him as our patron saint."

And so they did.

The Count of Carmagnola was one of the bravest and most successful of all the mercenaries.

In 1442, late in his life, he was working for the city of Venice, which was in the midst of a long war with Florence.

One day, he was suddenly recalled to Venice. As a favourite of the people, he was treated with all kinds of honour and splendour. That evening he was to dine with the chief magistrate himself, in his palace.

On the way into the palace, however, he noticed that the guard was leading him in a different direction from usual. Crossing the famous Bridge of Sighs, he suddenly realized they were taking him to the dungeon.

He was convicted on trumped-up charges and the next day in the Piazza San Marco, before a horrified crowd who could not understand how his fate had changed so drastically, he was beheaded.

Many of the great mercenaries of Renaissance Italy suffered the same fate as the patron saint of Siena and the Count of Carmagnola: They won battle after battle for their employers only to find themselves banished, imprisoned, or executed.

The problem was not ingratitude; but because there were so many other mercenaries as able and valiant as they were. They were replaceable. Nothing was lost by killing them.

Meanwhile, the older the mercenaries had grown powerful themselves and wanted more and more money for their services.

But how much more their employers could offer? instead, they could hire a younger, cheaper mercenary.

That was the fate of the Count of Carmagnola, who had started to act arrogantly and independently. He had taken his power for granted without making sure that he was genuinely indispensable.

Such is the fate (to a less violent degree, one hopes) of those who do not make others dependent on them. Eventually, someone comes along who can do the job as well as they can - someone younger, fresher, less expensive, less threatening.

Be the only one who can do what you do, and make the fate of those who hire you so entwined with yours that they could not possibly get rid of you. Otherwise, you will someday be forced to cross your own Bridge of Sighs.

Even in today’s corporate world, you will find such mercenaries, whose only objective is money and they are mostly they are pretty clear about that. They will only work for companies where they see consistent growth and money, the moment they find better opportunities; they would jump ship.

Of course, there is nothing wrong with that. In the pandemic and other downturns as well, we saw that even loyalty didn’t really pay off well for many.

You can very well be a mercenary, that’s your choice, but if you don’t make yourself indispensable, you will be replaced, because there will be many like you and the new breed will always keep cropping up.?

Another contrary argument to the above is all leadership books teach you otherwise. They will teach you to grow up to be a dispensable leader - but hey, there is a catch, make yourself dispensable in areas that really do not require your presence and cultivate into tasks that only you can deliver.

Having said that, being a mercenary is also never a win-win proposition. People will hire you knowing your traits to get their specific jobs done, and the day you start becoming a pain, you will be kicked out.

Pick up a skill or talent that makes you irreplaceable, and makes your company/seniors dependent on you. Make it hard for your bosses to replace you.

It’s tough but that’s business!

Here is another small story of Two Horses to end with:

TWO HORSES Two horses were carrying two loads. The front Horse went well, but the rear Horse was lazy. The men began to pile the rear Horse's load on the front Horse; when they had transferred it all, the rear Horse found it easy going, and he said to the front Horse: "Toil and sweat! The more you try, the more you have to suffer.

When they reached the tavern, the owner said; "Why should I fodder two horses when I carry all on one? I had better give the one all the food it wants, and cut the throat of the other; at least I shall have the hide." And so he did.

Competence is something that you cannot take it lightly, the day you do, you are done!

Source: 48 Laws of Power

Munavar Attari

Corporate Reputation | Stakeholder Relations | Communications I Crisis Management I Advocacy

1 年

The 'mercenary' may end up being everyone in the gigeconomy where all that matters is 'hourly rates' and there is no longer any concept of loyalty, engagement or belonging..!

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