Timing is Everything
Timing is Everything “He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight.” Timing can make or break a business. Sun Tzu understood this well—acting too soon wastes resources while waiting too long risks losing your advantage. For small business owners, knowing when to act is one of the hardest but most […]
Passing the Torch
Passing the Torch “The wrong person cannot be appointed to command. Lin Hsiang-ju, the Prime Minister of Chao, said: ‘Chao Kua is merely able to read his father’s books, and is as yet ignorant of correlating changing circumstances. Now Your Majesty, on account of his name, makes him the commander-in-chief. This is like glueing the […]
Meetings That Matter
Meetings That Matter “In the operations of war, where there are in the field a thousand swift chariots, as many heavy chariots, and a hundred thousand mail-clad soldiers, with provisions enough to carry them a thousand li, the expenditure at home and at the front… will reach the total of a thousand ounces of silver […]
Know Yourself, Know Your Competition
Know Yourself, Know Your Competition “If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.” Sun Tzu’s advice isn’t just for generals—it’s a lifeline for small business owners. To build a business that lasts, you need to understand two things: your strengths and weaknesses, and the strategies […]
Clarity or Chaos
Clarity or Chaos Have you ever felt like your business is spinning its wheels? Everyone’s busy, but nothing moves forward. Instead of confidently pursuing your goals, you’re stuck putting out fires and reacting to the next crisis. It’s exhausting—and often, it comes down to one issue: confusion. Sun Tzu, the ancient Chinese military strategist, wrote […]
Competent Leadership, Cohesive Teams
Competent Leadership, Cohesive Teams When Leadership Breaks Down This morning, I read this from Sun Tzu’s The Art of War: “If one ignorant of military matters is sent to participate in the administration of the army, then in every movement, there will be disagreement and mutual frustration, and the entire army will be hamstrung…” Sun […]
Decision-Making from the Battlefield
Decision-Making from the Battlefield This morning, I was reading The Art of War and read this: “No evil is greater than commands of the sovereign from the court.” Sun Tzu warns against leaders making decisions far removed from the realities of the battlefield. For small business owners, you need to remember this: the further you […]
Winning Sustainably
Winning Sustainably This morning, I was reading The Art of War when I came across this line: “Your aim must be to take All-under-Heaven intact.” It’s a simple but profound idea. Sun Tzu is saying that the ultimate victory isn’t about destruction—it’s about achieving success while preserving the resources, relationships, and value that you aim […]
Winning More by Fighting Less
Winning More by Fighting Less This morning, I was reading The Art of War when I came across this passage: “For to win one hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the acme of skill. To subdue the enemy without fighting is the acme of skill.” It’s the kind of wisdom that stops you […]
Victory Isn’t the Finish Line
Victory Isn’t the Finish Line This morning, as I was reading The Art of War, this passage jumped out at me: “[Tu Hsiang] entered Nan Haio, destroyed three of their camps, and captured much treasure. However, P’an Hung and his followers were still strong and numerous, while Tu Hsiang’s troops, now rich and arrogant, no […]
Work Smarter: Building Your Business Without Starting from Scratch
Work Smarter Building Your Business Without Starting from Scratch This morning, I was reading The Art of War and came across this passage: “The wise general sees to it that his troops feed on the enemy, for one bushel of the enemy’s provisions is equivalent to twenty of his…. in transporting provisions for a distance… […]
Hiring Smart
Hiring Smart Lessons from The Art of War This morning, I was reading the “Waging War” chapter of The Art of War, and one line stood out to me: “Those unable to understand the dangers inherent in employing troops are equally unable to understand the advantageous ways of doing so.” It made me think about […]
