No book has inspired me the way THE ART OF WAR – SUN TZU has, and I cannot fathom why. Is it because we constantly fight a battle? Is it because it is full of strategies that are palpable? Is it because of the decisions we take in life and face its consequences? What are the secrets for success?

I really don’t understand why I am always attracted to this book. This book is a reference point for any situation that requires immediate attention. The way any book can be interpreted in million ways, THE ART OF WAR can also be a source of light to a path. It is one of the most difficult books, I have ever read and re-read, as every time you read this book something new crops up. Life is a war, we fight daily. We fight a war for different things – success, love, respect, money, time or survival.

Most of the time we don’t know what we really want to accomplish. What is the desired outcome we seek? Is it worth the extra effort we put in to accomplish it? Sun Tzu stresses on strategy and plan before you act towards your goal. Don’t be a raging bull. Understand what you really want to accomplish and then prepare yourself for the challenge. Success can only be achieved when we use all our strengths to work for our advantage. Identify your resources and let it work for you. You can’t execute a plan without making a blueprint to guide your way.

Watch your competitor closely understand his strengths and weaknesses, work with him (if necessary), reveal his plan and vulnerable spots. It is as important to know yourself and the market to achieve success. Understand the market and the rules to succeed in that space. Staying ahead of your competitor is the key to success. Work on your weaknesses and threats that can come your way .

“In business, you might be tempted to directly attack. Consider the ‘Scroogled’ campaign Microsoft Bing launched against Google. Bing warned consumers not to get Scroogled by its rival search engine during the holiday campaigns in 2012. The campaign was deemed hypocritical and criticized by many. The full frontal assault on your competitor just may backfire, so find more creative avenues to weaken it. Ideally, you’ll find others lower on the totem pole to join forces.”- www.inc.com

THE ART OF WAR – SUN TZU

“Conflict is an inevitable part of life, according to this ancient Chinese classic of strategy, but everything necessary to deal with conflict wisely, honorably, victoriously, is already present within us. Compiled more than two thousand years ago by a mysterious warrior-philosopher, The Art of War is still perhaps the most prestigious and influential book of strategy in the world…” – Goodreads

15 SECRETS FOR SUCCESS – THE ART OF WAR

“Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win”
“Treat your men as you would your own beloved sons. And they will follow you into the deepest valley.”
“There are five dangerous faults which may affect a general:
(1) Recklessness, which leads to destruction;
(2) cowardice, which leads to capture;
(3) a hasty temper, which can be provoked by insults;
(4) a delicacy of honor which is sensitive to shame;
(5) over-solicitude for his men, which exposes him to worry and trouble.”
“Conceal your dispositions, and your condition will remain secret, which leads to victory; show your dispositions, and your condition will become patent, which leads to defeat.”
“Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt
“Rouse him, and learn the principle of his activity or inactivity. Force him to reveal himself, so as to find out his vulnerable spots.”
“If you know the enemy and know yourself, your victory will not stand in doubt; if you know Heaven and know Earth, you may make your victory complete.”
“It is easy to love your friend, but sometimes the hardest lesson to learn is to love your enemy.”
“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”
“When the outlook is bright, bring it before their eyes; but tell them nothing when the situation is gloomy.”
“Move not unless you see an advantage; use not your troops unless there is something to be gained; fight not unless the position is critical.”
“There are not more than five musical notes, yet the combinations of these five give rise to more melodies than can ever be heard.There are not more than five primary colours, yet in combination, they produce more hues than can ever been seen.There are not more than five cardinal tastes, yet combinations of them yield more flavors than can ever be tasted.”
“Anger may in time change to gladness; vexation may be succeeded by content.
But a kingdom that has once been destroyed can never come again into being; nor can the dead ever be brought back to life.”
“who wishes to fight must first count the cost”
“In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity.”