Posted on 12/29/2001 12:11:29 AM PST by Flipper4
Book Review: Rules For Corporate Warriors
by Nick Nichols
Review by W.J. Rayment
SEATTLE/ Conservative Monitor -- War Is Hell, all Hell, as William T. Sherman so aptly pointed out some 140 years ago. Nick Nichols, author of "Rules For Corporate Warriors", would surely agree with this statement, and he would go further to say that the struggle between the Extreme-Environmentalists along with the animal rights lobbies against the rest of humanity is akin to war. Thus it is fought by many of the same rules.
He begins his comprehensive book, subtitled "How to Fight and Survive Attack Group Shakedowns", with a short but apt history lesson - the struggle between two English parliamentarians, Winston Churchill and Neville Chamberlain, during the tumultuous days leading to World War II. He shows how the spineless policies of Chamberlain, appeasing Hitler's territorial aggression, simply led to more aggression. He then illustrates how it took a bull-terrier like the scowling Churchill to finally save the civilized world. Through the rest of the book he uses Neville as a synonym for appeasers and Winston as nom de guerre for warriors.
Like the Nazis, the extremists on the left side of the political spectrum work against corporations and the body politic at large to advance an agenda that seems altruistic on its surface, but is, in reality, pure hunger for power and detrimental to society as a whole and to corporations as well as individuals in particular.
Mr. Nichols then tells us who these extremists are in specific terms, from environmental groups like Greenpeace to animal-rights groups such as PETA. Then he gives us a comprehensive view of their tactics in shaking down corporations to get them to comply with their warped notion of environmentalism and for corporate funding of their militant organizations. He does this with a colloquial style that is clear, readable and at times engrossing. Frequently he uses anecdotes to illustrate his points and quotes that will burn into the reader's memory the information he means to convey.
Chapters on how to deal with shakedown groups are well-layed out, with bulletted instructions that are not only prescient, but useful and inspirational. There is a very revealing chapter, with 15 points on how to deal with press interviews and reporters in general. He even has a chapter on mistakes that can be made and how to lose the "war" with the extreme left.
Far from giving untested advice, Mr. Nichols is one of America's leading crisis management experts. Many passages of the book are based on personal experiences. Case studies clearly illustrate the efficacy of the tactics he recommends. A chapter on the Bill Moyers documentary on the Chemical Industry is fascinating; it is a behind the scenes look at how a man with a personal agenda (and power in the media) can single out an industry and create a great deal of damage. Yet it also illustrates how Moyers' unwarranted efforts could be blunted and even thwarted by forethought, intelligence and courage.
Perhaps the most interesting chapter deals with ethics. His discussion of what is ethical and what is not in dealing with leftists is both surprising and conclusive.
With all of this, "Rules for Corporate Warriors" is not just a book for CEOs and policy wonks. It is a handy book for anyone concerned about the power of the left and media in politics. It can be used as a guidebook for any political discussion. Principles that apply to corporations and the media can be even more effective in personal relationships.
Readable, intelligent, comprehensive, highly recommended!
Oops! Did I say that out loud?
Generally, what does it recommend? Several years ago I remember someone recommending stringing them out, reschedule meetings, make them go through several layers, give them big phony sympathies and smiles… but never give them any cash.
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