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 […]
Where They Are Strong, Avoid Them
Sun Tzu on how a small business actually competes Imagine you’re the proud owner of a small-town bakery. Twinkling string lights. Freshly baked cinnamon rolls. Holiday sugar cookies in the shape of snowflakes flying off the shelves. Life is good. Business is steady. Then you hear the news. A well-known chain bakery is opening two […]
What Hiking Taught Me About Business
Hiking in the mountains is one of my favorite things. I do it whenever I can. Over the years I’ve started to notice that the same mistakes show up on the trail that show up in business. When you’re new to hiking, most of your attention goes to the next rock or root. You spend […]