SwBratcher's Posts

One of the reasons I love Sun Tzu is the clear wisdom at work in the book, the clarity of thought running throughout it. It offers a unique view of the world that transcends its original military focus as it discusses the notions of appropriate use of resources, of "measuring, estimating, counting, comparing and gauging" both your own strength and that of the "enemy"--indeed, the idea of classifying knowledge itself as a precious resource. Those are all ideas that are immediately applicable today.

Ultimately, Sun Tzu was writing about how to engage a sentient opponent and come out on top. About avoiding a draining, attritional conflict and finding another way to win. About looking at your competitor and saying, "Where am I stronger?" And of course also saying, even though it hurts, "Where is he stronger?," and accepting that answer. That's all useful in business.

Business isn't the same as warfare. Usually no one dies, for a start. But sometimes, when the crucial deal goes wrong, it can feel like war--especially considering soldiers spend a great deal of their time training and very little fighting, whereas people in business, especially in the modern globalized world, usually do battle, with major assets in play, 365 days a year. So, there's more to Sun Tzu than slavishly applying his aphorisms to a business environment. If it were that easy, we'd all be millionaires. Indeed, if a copy of Sun Tzu guaranteed success in all things, war itself would be a sight easier, too.