“1. We come now to the question of encamping the army, and observing signs of the enemy. Pass quickly over mountains, and keep in the neighborhood of valleys.
2. Camp in high places, facing the sun. Do not climb heights in order to fight. So much for mountain warfare.
3. After crossing a river, you should get far away from it.
4. When an invading force crosses a river in its onward march, do not advance to meet it in mid-stream. It will be best to let half the army get across, and then deliver your attack.
5. If you are anxious to fight, you should not go to meet the invader near a river which he has to cross.
6. Moor your craft higher up than the enemy, and facing the sun. Do not move up-stream to meet the enemy. So much for river warfare.
7. In crossing salt-marshes, your sole concern should be to get over them quickly, without any delay.
8. If forced to fight in a salt-marsh, you should have water and grass near you, and get your back to a clump of trees. So much for operations in salt-marches.
9. In dry, level country, take up an easily accessible position with rising ground to your right and on your rear, so that the danger may be in front, and safety lie behind. So much for campaigning in flat country.
10. These are the four useful branches of military knowledge which enabled the Yellow Emperor to vanquish four several sovereigns.”
Sun Tzu, Master Sun
Art of War
Quoted in The Art of War, Translated by Lionel Giles, Offered by The Project Gutenberg eBook
In a competitive industry
Observe the enemy
Be fast
Be steady
Engage on advantages
Disengage on disadvantages
Wait for an opportunity
Attack when they are empty
Set higher than the enemy
Avoid when the enemy is mighty
Be quick without delay
Adapt and parlay
2 Comments
Hi David,
The message in this passage reminds me a lot of the quote in Wall Street: “All warfare is based on deception. If your enemy is superior, evade him. If angry, irritate him. If equally matched, fight and if not: split and re-evaluate.”
Avoidance is important but I think adaptation is the key. I’m huge on innovation and I love it as an equitable strategy to move beyond the competition.
There is a book I read recently called Blue Ocean Strategy that dealt with innovating into a new genre within your line of business. I think it might apply with what you’ve said here.
Sounds like a great book, over 1 million sold in the 1st year and 39 languages!? Innovation is a great way to move beyond the competition as well as being uncontested if no one can replicate it.