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 […]
Stop Getting Stuck
Stop Getting Stuck How to Keep Your Business Moving Forward This morning, while reading The Art of War, I came across this passage: “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. As owners, […]
Plan Like a Pro: Lessons in Strategy and Leadership for Small Businesses
Plan Like a Pro Strategy and Leadership for Small Business: Lessons from The Art of War This morning, as I was reading The Art of War, I came across this passage: “Li Ching of the Tang proposed ten plans to be used against Hsiao Hsieh, and the entire responsibility of commanding the armies was entrusted […]
Extraordinary Speed: The Power of Moving Fast
Extraordinary Speed Lessons from The Art of War This morning, I was reading The Art of War, and one quote stood out: “What is of the greatest importance in war is extraordinary speed; one cannot afford to neglect opportunity.” It’s a simple idea, but it has profound implications for small business. Acting quickly and decisively […]
Win Big by Starting Small
Win Big by Starting Small Lessons from The Art of War When Big Bets Go Wrong Years ago, when I was running a home health agency, I made what I thought was a game-changing decision. I invested more than $250,000 in a Honeywell® telehealth solution. I was convinced it would revolutionize patient care and drive […]
Competing Strategically as a Small Business: Where They Are Strong, Avoid Them
Competing Strategically as a Small Business Where They Are Strong, Avoid Them: Lessons from The Art of War Competing Strategically to Maximize Your Strengths Imagine you’re the proud owner of a small-town bakery, the kind with twinkling string lights, freshly baked cinnamon rolls wafting through the air, and your holiday sugar cookies in the shape […]
Building Trust and Loyalty: Moral Influence for Small Business Owners
Building Trust and Loyalty: Moral Influence for Small Business Owners Leadership in small business goes far beyond strategy and execution—it’s about trust, loyalty, and the personal connections you create with your team and customers. Have you ever struggled to get your team fully on board with a new project (or an old one, for that […]
5 Leadership Skills for Small Business Owners
5 Leadership Skills for Small Business Owners (Lessons from The Art of War) Leadership in small business is deeply personal. It’s about more than setting goals or managing projects—it’s about the trust, loyalty, and respect you build with your team and customers. Unlike in a large corporation, your leadership is visible every day, and your […]
Read This: Tiny Habits: The Small Changes That Change Everything
If you’re obsessed with productivity (and I’m going to assume you are), and you’re struggling to improve your habits (again, I’m assuming you are), then you should read this book. For the record, I’ve read almost all of the popular habits books over the past 15 years or so (did I mention I’m obsessed?). And […]
