Crows and owls were at perpetual war. A wise crow volunteered to infiltrate the owls' fortress, enduring ridicule from his own kin as cover. He spent months earning the owls' trust — then, knowing their roosts, led the crows to victory at dawn when the owls were blind.
The highest form of strategic intelligence is patience in service of a long play. The spy crow appeared to lose everything publicly in order to win decisively in private. The short-term cost was bearable because the long-term map was clear.
Where are you playing a short game in a situation that rewards a long one? What would true strategic patience look like here?
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