Every Move Matters
Sun Tzu on planning without waste “In planning, never a useless move; in strategy, no step taken in vain.” — Sun Tzu If you’re like most owners I know, you’re busy almost all the time. Being busy doesn’t always mean being productive. Days get filled with tasks that feel urgent but don’t contribute to long-term […]
Visionary Leadership
Sun Tzu on seeing what others miss “To foresee a victory which the ordinary man can foresee is not the acme of skill.” — Sun Tzu This morning, reading The Art of War, I came across the story of Han Hsin. His strategy seemed absurd. His own generals doubted him. The Chao army mocked him […]
Focus on What You Can Control
Sun Tzu and the Serenity Prayer agree This morning I read this: “That which depends on me, I can do; that which depends on the enemy cannot be certain.” — Sun Tzu The passage reminds me of the Serenity Prayer: “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to […]
Timing is Everything
Sun Tzu on when to move and when to wait “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. Waiting too long risks losing your advantage. For small business owners, knowing when to act […]
Meetings That Matter
Sun Tzu on the cost of mobilizing people “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 […]
Know Yourself, Know Your Competition
Sun Tzu on the two things you need to see clearly “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. […]
Victory Isn’t the Finish Line
Sun Tzu on what happens after the win This morning, 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
Sun Tzu on not starting from scratch This morning, reading The Art of War, I came across this: “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… twenty bushels will be consumed […]
Hiring Smart
Sun Tzu on what you risk by not hiring This morning I was reading the “Waging War” chapter of The Art of War, and one line stood out: “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 a […]
Stop Getting Stuck
Sun Tzu on what long delays cost This morning, reading The Art of War, I came across this: “Victory is the main object in war. If this is long delayed, weapons are blunted and morale depressed.” It made me think about how often this happens in small businesses. We pour time, energy, and money into […]
Plan Like a Pro
Sun Tzu on strategy and leadership in a small business This morning, reading The Art of War, I came across this: “Li Ching of the Tang proposed ten plans to be used against Hsiao Hsieh, and the entire responsibility of commanding the armies was entrusted to him.” My first thought was that ten plans seemed […]
Win Big by Starting Small
Sun Tzu on testing small When Big Bets Go Wrong Years ago at my home health agency, I made a big bet. I spent more than $250,000 on a Honeywell® telehealth system. I was convinced it would change the way we delivered care and drive a lot of new growth. I’d heard stories about agencies […]