Befriend a Distant Enemy to Attack One Nearby

Strategy 23

It is known that nations that border each other become enemies while nations separated by distance and obstacles make better allies. When you are the strongest in one field, your greatest threat is from the second strongest in your field, not the strongest from another field.


Modern Example

I worked with a project manager who was very threatened by my skills and my track record of project successes. She did everything she could to take control of my work and sabotage my projects. Never mind that I already had a boss who was more than capable of any of those things...  ;>  Anyway, she thought I was out to take her job and her work. I was an architect, and had no wish whatsoever to pursue management... but I digress. The conflict was never ending. Eventually, I started to call in favors from friends of mine who worked in other departments, and I was able to take a promotion into another project, not just in another division, but on the other side of town! The look on her face when she heard about my promotion (now outranking her) was worth it all.