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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

Navigating Business Terrain: Lessons from Hiking in the Mountains

You Don’t Have to Go It Alone

Hiking in the mountains isn’t just a hobby for me; it’s a passion that mirrors my passion for business building. The two activities, in my mind, are deeply interconnected. Imagine the journey of a novice hiker: it’s mostly about taking one careful step after another, with most of your focus on not tripping over the […]