Masinissa, a brilliant Numidian cavalry commander crucial to Carthage's early successes, was not driven by ideology. After Scipio decisively defeated the last Carthaginian army in Spain, Masinissa pragmatically switched his allegiance to the Romans, recognizing they now held the momentum and offered a better path to power.

Scipio consciously fostered rumors of divine parentage and inspiration from gods like Jupiter. This carefully crafted, Alexander the Great-style persona built immense charisma and instilled confidence in his followers, convincing them his plans were divinely ordained and destined for success.

The Roman war in Spain was less about territorial conquest and more a strategic effort to stop reinforcements from reaching Hannibal in Italy. By engaging Carthaginian forces under Hasdrubal, the Scipio brothers tied down critical enemy armies and resources, preventing Hannibal from receiving the support needed to win.

Our default method for promotion—open competition—is flawed because it disproportionately attracts and rewards individuals who most desire power, not necessarily those best suited for leadership. The Founding Fathers understood this, preferring reluctant leaders. Alternative models, like deliberation by a select body, can produce more competent and less self-interested leaders.

Senior professionals can combat systemic risk aversion by lending their social status to younger colleagues. When a junior person raises a valid but risky point, a senior can re-state it as their own concern, using their credibility as a shield to allow the idea to be judged on its merits, not its origin.

Openness is a tool for dominance, not just a moral virtue. The Romans became powerful by being strategically tolerant, quickly abandoning their own methods when they found better ones elsewhere. This allowed them to constantly upgrade their military, technology, and knowledge from conquered peoples.

Scipio learned that a lagoon protecting New Carthage periodically became shallow. He timed his attack for this moment, presenting the ebbing water to his troops as a miracle promised by the god Neptune. This divine framing inspired his men and enabled a surprise attack on an unguarded wall.

BBDO's Andrew Robertson became CEO at 29 not just for his talent, but because two older, conflicting leaders saw him as a neutral third party they could both agree on. This highlights how political dynamics can create unexpected opportunities for junior talent.

The Epstein Transparency Act passed with near-unanimous, immediate support because voting against it has terrible optics. This contrasts with typical legislative delays, revealing how politicians prioritize public perception and speed when the "right" side of an issue is obvious to voters.