Whenever there is a war, there are advance troops which go out beforehand to gather information, figure out a plan and try to do the plan without any of their troops being injured or killed. Fortunately for most of us, the organizations who pay us there is no killing in person, sometimes there is downsizing but no one is killed. For the people who have to worry about being killed, it is useful to learn how they do what they do. What steps do they have or need to have in order successful complete the mission. One of the books which goes inside America’s most secret special forces is a book called Killer Elite by Michael Smith published by Cassell Military Paperbacks, London, UK, 2006.

In the book the author goes through missions which the Washington political class orders the military to take. Similar to all politicians there is a desire for a short term result. The conflict is the elite squads tend to discuss the debriefs and lack of communication ranks high. Prior to drones, it was relatively easy for the military to access satellite photos to see structures, but the intel needed is what is inside. How many rooms? what is their layout? where are the people the group is interested in? the details are what humans are needed for.

In a number of military ventures – communication was used. As the world moved to cell phones, it is relatively easy to track people. The military used planes loaded with communication devices which allowed the networks of the people to be connected and located. As time went by, patterns could be discovered – who is important? who are the prime contacts?  what does the person do? Then plans are made to more easily identify and takeout the targets. Planning, information and timing are critically important.

In all ventures, the people are highly trained and are taught to blend into normal life to gain intelligence. Often times clues can be found in the newspapers, but you people are still the key to intelligence and they give it for a variety of reasons. People are people.

Linking to dividend paying stocks, the process the military uses can be adapted to your research. How do you buy your last stock? Read about it the newspaper, heard about it on TV, or put it on your radar and started to follow and investigate the company? If you were a venture fund, you would reject most of the pitches even though they sound good. Research takes time and makes and saves you money. It does not have to military precision, but you will need to answer the question why did you buy it? then you will know when to sell.

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