A layoff fundamentally changed how I perceive work

Someone once asked Napoleon how he decided where to assign soldiers. Napoleon’s reply was that it’s simple: soldiers are either smart or dumb, lazy or energetic.

* The smart and energetic I make field commanders. They know what to do and can rally the troops to do it.

* The smart and lazy I make generals. They also know what to do, but they’re not going to waste energy doing what doesn’t need to be done.

* The dumb and lazy I make foot soldiers.

The takeaway, is that only after you lose your shiny glasses are you ready to take on larger responsibilities.

Don’t become jaded. Don’t carry around resentment - just get on with it - and you’ll Very much be on your way to career advancement

What did he do with the dumb and energetic?

My guess, frontlines.

Did he say anything about the dumb and energetic?

You get rid of them: https://quoteinvestigator.com/2014/02/28/clever-lazy/

"I shot them", he said.

"I shot them", he said.

That was "foot soldiers".