Making good strategic decisions (individually, or nationally). We know the moments when they arrive. They cannot be forced.

We cannot plan stuff and stick to that plan (force it through if necessary), except to make it worse. 

Maybe there was a time when good strategizing was possible, but if so, that time has gone. 

But what I do see, in individual lives and also in the lives of nations; is that key moments, cruxes, arise; when there is one right thing to do... 

Or Not. 

Good strategy amounts simply to this: Recognizing the moment is now, making the right choice now. 

Because if the right thing is not done, then it does not much matter what else is done, because it will not suffice. 

In sum: "we" (personally, individually, nationally) need to do The Right Thing, at The Right Time - or else It Will Be Bad. 

Doing the wrong things will be bad, and doing the right thing too late will also be bad. 

We just have to make the right decision when that decision needs to be made...

And this is something we can know: or rather we should know, and will know... If we allow ourselves to recognize it. 

These moments ought to be recognizable, because they are forced upon our attention: ourselves, other persons, or larger groupings. 

And the right decision is usually clear enough - but only if you are honest, and only if you have the right motivations, and only if you can stop trying (and pretending) to predict the outcome of that decision. 

This predicting stuff is a killer! Instead of staying focused on making the right decision when teh need has arisen; instead people try to make the decision that will (or will probably, or can convincingly be argued) work-out to have the best consequences. 

And so the moment is missed - and we get bad stuff. 

 

The trouble is that people need to choose the right decision. Choose freely. 

It does no good to compel or manipulate people to the right decision, because then they will not really have decided, will they?  

Modern life more or less compels everybody to make plans, strategies, schemes - and at least to pretend they are being pursued (and succeeding!) - but really it all comes down to doing the right thing at the right time. 

(Or Not.)