The Truth About Making Smart Decisions

Chapter 46. Don’t forget the screwdrivers

In making big decisions, don’t forget to pay attention to the small details. In the Battle of Isandlwana (in what is currently South Africa) in January 1879, British troops were almost completely annihilated by Zulu warriors armed primarily with spears. The British had modern weapons and crates of ammo, but they had failed to bring enough screwdrivers. While they tried desperately to open the ammo boxes with stones and bayonets, the Zulus stormed their positions and defeated them.

While subsequent analysis of the battle raised other reasons that contributed to the failure, the point of the story is clear: Small details matter. All the best equipment and best training in the world—all the military strategy ...