Lesson From World War II Era Field Marshal

?

During recent years I have noticed strange glorification of how small numbers someone is sleeping and while still working insanely large number of hours. I could give a pretty lengthy lecture of how insane, productivity destroying, unhealthy and eventually if done long enough, also deadly it is. Still back in 2014 I was myself doing insanely huge number of operating hours. Yeah, the financial results were great, but I wasn’t feeling good at all. Each evening, those last few hours and especially at the end of the week, I was ridiculously tired. Basically, my regime at that time was like going through US Navy SEALs famous “Hell week” type of thing month after month. Purely insane and hyper way unhealthy. Eventually I decided that quality drives over quantity and started to cut the hours. I started to feel better and better, and each operating hour became energetic. I don’t care how many high profile entrepreneurs, former soldiers etc. would flag for the greatness of lack of sleep, they can keep their idiotic regime and so you should leave it for them as well.

Lesson From World War II Era Commander

Let me share the system which Field Marshal William Slim followed during the time he was commanding Burma Corps starting from March 1942. When Slim took the command of Burma Corps in March 1942, British led troops were under extremely difficult circumstances and Slim’s troops being heavily outnumbered.

When Slim took command of the 15th Corps of the Eastern Army in April 1943, the situation was literally disastrous. Slim restored morale, jungle training and tactics that eventually led winning over Japanese troops. Field Marshal Sir. Claude Auchinleck stated in 1946 about Slim.

“One of Slim’s chief characteristics was his quite outstanding determination and inability to admit defeat of the possibility of it: also, his exceptional ability to gain and retain the confidence of those under him and with him, without any resort to panache. Success did not inflate him, or misfortune depress him.” (Source: National Army Museum. Field Marshal Sir. Claude Auchinleck)

So, what type of daily regime our good General Slim followed? Slim woke up at 06:30. At seven , he saw an important messages which were received during the night. 7:30-8:00 breakfast with air-commanders and principal staff officers. 8:30 Slim was attending the joint air and land intelligence conference. After the conference Slim dealt urgent matters with his administration and saw to the multifarious business that came to and army commander for decision. They all met again at the lunch and talked things through. Slim left the office around about 3pm. He spent an hour to read a novel, had tea and went for a walk with one his staff members. He dined at 7:30pm. Talked at the bar or mess till 9:30pm. Paid a visit to the operations room to see latest reports before the night. At 10pm our good general was in bed and the lights out. He was very strict that he wasn't disturbed during the night unless a real serious crisis appeared which required his attention. In his book Defeat Into Victory, Slim explains how important it was to get enough sleep and rest and not run and fuss round all day and till small hours wear out their troops and themselves. Exhausted leaders cannot make any good and critical decisions and function well. When the crisis kicks in, such a leaders are completely useless.