Since early in the week, I started reading the book of Sun Tzu “The Art of War”. It was on my list of books to read this year, and since I found a full book, free to read in Google’s Library, I started to read pieces of the book in between meetings at work.
Sun Tzu was a military strategist, who served for Ho Lu, King of Wu, one of the many old kingdoms that are now part of China. King Ho Lu, reigned from 514 to 496 B.C., so this book is estimated to be written around that period of time, so we are talking about a book of around 2,500 years old, but with principles that are as valid today as they were more then 2,000 years ago.
According to what I’ve been reading so far, it is believed that important Generals of our history, such as Napoleon and Wellington, have read Sun Tzu’s theories,.
One of my managers at KPMG (back in 1998), recommended me this book, and he constantly referred to phrases of Sun Tzu, when I was working for him, and I’m pretty sure he applied several of his tactics throughout his career, no wonder why he quickly became a partner in the firm at a very young age.
Today I found something that is very interesting, and that I’m sure it does not only apply to war, but to most aspects of our lives, either in business, trade, sports, work, family, marriage, or any other activity we engage in, that was to deal with other human beings.
Here are the concepts that I’d like to share with you, directly from the book:
1.- All warfare is based on deception
2.- Hence when able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must seem inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe, we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near
3.- Hold out baits to entice the enemy. Feign disorder and crush him
4.- If he is secure at all points, be prepared for him. If he is in superior strength, evade him.
5.- If your opponent is of choleric temper, seek to irritate him. Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant.
6.- If he is taking his ease, give him no rest.
7.- Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected.
So basically, this is a recommendation to win all battles in life, based on intelligence, and not by brute force. To avoid confrontation if the opponent if stronger than us, and avoid being predictable, and study the opponent patiently, so we can find his weak points and defects, and use them to our advantage.
I’m sure this is applicable to more than one aspect of our lives, What do you think?
Hector Sanchez | 
10 16th, 2009| 
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