The 4 fundamental, absolutely necessary for victory and defeat prevention, rules of war, and/or any type of conflict
1. Always plan on your plan going wrong
Always have many backups specifically for WHEN your plan fails.
To not is simple arrogance, stupidity, and will guarantee your defeat
2. Always plan for the unexpected
Never cut planning for something just because you think it isn't probable. The very fact is that it is most probable for the enemy to not think of the unexpected and thefore the most expected route of attack. Regardless, to not plan for the unexpected is simple arrogance, stupidity, and will guarantee your defeat.
3. By the time you know what you need, it is to late
Always take as much as you can take, plan as much as you can, do as much as you can. Many defeats happend becuase the leaders took what they thought they needed rather than everthing they could bring, and when they discovered what they really needed, it was to late, and they lost. Examples like napeolon, sweden, or hitler, all invading Russia. They planned on only being there in the summer(or in Sweden's case living off the land). They took what they thought they needed and by the time the realized they needed more food or clothing, it was to late, and they lost. And those are just the most well know and some big ones. Hundreds of other deafets, and death occurred by faliure to adhere to this rule. To not take everthing you can is simple arrogance, stupidity, and will guarantee your defeat.
4. Plan for everthing. All occurenes you can plan for, in order of their probality. Never stop planning until the enemy arrives at your door, and don't over plan aspects. Plan thoroughly, check thrice, and move on to the next plan. Be efficient. To not may cause your defeat.
By following these rules in war and conflict you can accurately say you did your best. If you lose, you can say with truth, nothing more could have been done. And that sometimes softens the defeat, and can be more meaningful to the crushed loser than victory itself.
