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7 Lessons From The Art of War



Sun Tzu's The Art of War is one of the earliest examples of a genius sharing his thoughts to the world through the written form. More than that, though, it's still a book that can help you out, if you know how to apply its lessons to your own life, as not all in war is about war.

7: Appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak




Although projecting your strength can be useful for certain situations, it's better to be ambiguous about it. If you wonder how the Soviet Union managed to make it through the Cold War without being destroyed, it's because they managed to convince the United States that they were a powerful military force, stalling long enough to develop a nuclear program. 

For the flip side, appearing weak when you are strong will make your enemies underprepared for any confrontation you may have. It's better to be humble about what you can and can't do. 

6: Know the enemy, and know yourself

The actual quote is “If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.” 

This is a testament to the virtue of preparing for any situation you'd have to face. You (preferably) don't go into a job interview without knowing what's going on with the company, and you always go hiking with more provisions than you might need, just in case. Not preparing enough will leave you exposed to surprises. 

5: In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity




Oskar Schindler is a prime example for this. He was an average man who grew rich through the business of war and then used that to free the prisoners that he could afford. Had it not been for his cleverness in the midst of chaos, he wouldn't have been able to do such a feat. You can find examples of this everywhere, from factions that grow powerful and acquire land because of war, to businessmen who grow rich, not despite, but because of an economic crisis. 

This doesn't imply that you should go causing chaos to create a power vacuum, rather, whenever the need for leadership arises, take it, for there are usually good consequences at the end of your struggle. 

4: Treat your men as you would your own beloved sons. And they will follow you into the deepest valley.

There are many leaders that have all but forgotten this in the modern world. Loyalty not only gives you men that will stick by your side through any hardship, but those that will also give you the best of their efforts. 

3: You can get so much out of so little




“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 bee seen.

There are not more than five cardinal tastes, yet combinations of
them yield more flavours than can ever be tasted.” 

Although this one is not directly concerned with war or any other sort of competition, it is wise for you to appreciate the beauty of life. Sometimes you can find it in simplicity, but its complexity comes precisely from the little things you can find. 

2: One may know how to conquer without being able to do it


What good is your knowledge if there's nothing you can use it for? This one is more of a warning to those who spend more time "preparing" for their goals as procrastination. If you're already aware of the more advanced aspects of any single topic without having done anything even as a beginner, then you probably need to begin at some point. 

1: The supreme Art of War is to subdue the enemy without fighting




Call it charisma, preparation, better circumstances, the truth is that avoiding conflict is good for you. Winning is better. If your power of persuasion is enough to defeat an enemy without fighting, then you will find yourself a successful man, for it allows you to save your energy for any real battle that should come. Better yet, would be to circumvent that as well. 

There is more to learn, not only from Sun Tzu himself but many others who have applied his lessons in one way or another. We have plenty of time to go through them, so stay tuned for that, and in the meantime, make sure that you're prepared for any challenge you might have to face, and enjoy the little things in life that build on the more complex. 
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