Sun Tzu's Art of War

“The art of war teaches us to rely not on the likelihood of the enemy’s not coming, but on our own readiness to receive him; not on the chance of his not attacking, but rather on the fact that we have made our position unassailable.” — Sun Tzu

I have The Art of War sitting on my desk next to my Bible. It is one of the oldest books on military strategy and warfare. Sun Tzu was a Chinese warrior writer who wrote this book in 500 B.C. One of the most significant attributes of this writing is that even after centuries, the maneuvers presented in this book are applicable today.?

Basically, the art of war is no war - but always be prepared!

Unlike the standard layout of contemporary novels, Sun Tzu segregated this book into 13 different sections. Each section represents a specific game plan and tactic of war. It is quite popular all around the world because most of its lessons can be linked directly with other competitive fields such as business, sports, or even your personal life. The key points of Sun Tzu, from a business perspective, that I have learned from this book are as follows.

Conquer Your Rival by Strategy

The chief objective of any business should be to conquer its rivals by a legitimate strategy, not by conflict because conflict is eventually destructive to everyone. Defeating the competitors requires vigilant and comprehensive planning, and a focused yet flexible business strategy. Flexibility refers to being adaptable to ever-changing aspects such as social, political, and economic factors. Keeping aligned with advanced technology is also crucial in standing out in front of competitors. This strategy works in your personal life too. Participating in fights can make you stressed out and shift your focus from your goals.

Always Be Prepared in Advance

It is not a wise decision to keep waiting for things to go wrong. Companies should be prepared in advance for any circumstance such as a sudden change in demand or a competitive move from one of their rivals. It is only possible by continuous analysis of market trends, customers, and competitors. Similarly, in your personal life, you should train your mind for dealing with challenges. Life is full of trials and hardships. The more resilient we are, the easier it is to face adversities and succeed. Train your employees as business partners.

“Treat your men well, and train them thoroughly.” —Sun Tzu

This one-liner statement of Sun Tzu taught me the principal rule of managing a business successfully. Your potential to establish a team out of your employees is what makes you a successful business leader. You must train your team in such a way that they own your business. They must envision the company’s future with you. Forming such teams requires a great deal of dedication and insight. You must take care of the well-being of your employees to keep them motivated. Don’t let uncontrollable factors control your business.

One of the biggest lessons that I gained from Tzu’s book is to face business challenges. In every situation, whether favorable or unfavorable, there lies an opportunity. You can’t really change some elements such as environmental factors or any defective government policy. But you can certainly alter your plans according to the prevailing situations instead of crying over them. It is a leader’s quality to convert the threats into opportunities.

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Have a great day, Gordon

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