Most people know something about Sparta – for many years people like me knew of the myth or legend of a prince stealing another man’s wife (Helen of Troy) and a battle for her. There have been numerous movies on the theme and because the story is compelling there will be likely more. Eventually you might ask who are the Spartans? The book The Spartans by Paul Carledge published by The Overlook Press, NY, 2003 is one book to begin to look for answers. The Spartans were a city-state in Ancient Greece who a particular interest in combat. From an early age all young males took part in exercises that lead to having core values of self-sacrifice, community endeavor and achievement against all odds. In the movie 300 – 300 Spartan warriors against an army of Persians, one of the warriors went told there were enough archers to block out the sun, replied good we will fight in the shade.

Part of the life for Spartans revolved around training and occasionally using that training to kept their lands. Another interesting part is to look at inheritance or passing of property. In the book, Mr. Carledge discusses the various rulers and their families – who they married and why. Sometimes marriages were done to ensure property holdings remained in a family so an uncle may marry a niece or close relative. It depends on where you are in the hierarchy but marriages could be have both political and economic considerations, ideally love or respect for each other developed as well as the next generation.

Another aspect to life as an independent is to try to remain independent which means forever forming alliances while others form alliances for other reasons. One example was Sparta went to fight Athens its strategy was to destroy the grain crop so as to starve the city. Unfortunately, Athens only a small portion of the grain consumed by Athens can from what it grew, most was imported from the what is now the Ukraine. Athens controlled the seas and were in no danger of starving. In the time of having many alliances means sometimes your friends are your enemies in the future.

Linking to dividend paying stocks, instead of city states fighting for lives we now have companies fighting for market share and hopefully everyone has a longer life. Within the context of fighting for market share will be alliances and strategies to enhance the company. Some of the strategies will be based on how does a person rise to the executive suite? some of it will be done on past history? and some of it will be done stepping on toes? These are all considerations for you to evaluate how the company will do in the future, ideally you want it to continue to make profits.

There are more questions than answers, till the next time – to raising questions.