As others have pointed out, Heinlein was writing literature, not management or career advice. That said, planning a modern, distributed web service probably isn't far off in complexity from the invasions he would have been picturing. As for dying gallantly... you're right that we'll all face it only once. Some go bitterly, some go cravenly, some 'rage against the dying of the light'. I'd say part of a life well lived is to face its end with brave, 'gallant', acceptance, whatever circumstance precipitates that end.