Radical Acceptance
Marcus Aurelius on what to do with reality It was a Friday morning at the Starbucks where we held conversations that needed to happen away from the office. My Director of Nursing — the best manager and leader I had ever hired — sat down with her coffee and told me she was leaving to […]
The Cluttered Mind Trap
Marcus Aurelius on clarity of mind Twenty years ago, I woke up every morning already behind. Before my first Diet Coke of the day, my mind was racing. Emails that needed replies. Fires that needed putting out. A never-ending list of urgent tasks I hadn’t touched the day before. It felt like running a race […]
Finding Opportunity in Chaos
Sun Tzu on what AI is doing to your industry This morning, reading The Art of War, I came across this: “In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity.” It made me think about the wild and rapid changes artificial intelligence is bringing to nearly every industry. For small businesses, AI is shaking up […]
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. […]
Winning More by Fighting Less
Sun Tzu on subduing without fighting This morning, reading The Art of War, I came across this: “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.” The kind of wisdom that stops you in your tracks. Sun […]
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 […]