Aristotle Onassis (AO) had many examples of this...

He knew his father would ship tobacco to Brazil (I think it was).

He knew he didn't have ships when he won the shipping contract. Others didn't, otherwise they would not have given him the contract.

He knew about the "ship sale" at which he bought the ships to ship the contracts he had.

Moving away from AO... Coke knows their recipe, Pepsi theirs. KFC has "secret" herbs and spices. Mikey D's special sauce.

When I give a quote, no-one knows how I arrive at my price. Stumps my competition. Stops customers trying to figure it out. If you don't quote an hourly rate to anyone, no-one can second-guess you. No-one can dispute a fee.

Retailers know where to get goods that consumers don't know. Because the consumer doesn't know where to get the goods they are forced to buy them from the only supplier they know - the retailer.

How you make decisions is something no-one else can know.

What your plans are. Imagine if Trump let it be known which NY real estate he was looking to acquire in the future. Or letting others know what his plans are for the package of land he is putting together. Or how he has his downside covered.

I think AO was hinting at playing your cards close to your chest. Keeping your business to yourself.

Michael Ross


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