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December 5, 2024 14 mins
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
All right, let's be real for a sec.

Speaker 2 (00:01):
Doesn't it sometimes feel like we're out there on a battlefield,
you know, constantly striving for that promotion, waging war on
our inbox, even just trying to find a little bit
of peace and quiet. Yeah, it can be a lot.
I really can well get this. Turns out a military
genius from over twenty five hundred years ago might have
some surprisingly useful advice for us today.

Speaker 1 (00:23):
It's true. And what's really amazing is how these principles,
they really do, go way beyond just the literal battlefield. Right.
It's not about, you know, becoming some kind of warrior
in the traditional sense. It's more about how can we
apply strategic thinking to well, pretty much any challenge life
throws at us.

Speaker 2 (00:41):
I love that, and that's exactly what we're diving into today.
We've got a really thought provoking article here called sun
Zou's Tactics for Modern Day Success, and it basically takes
the ancient wisdom from the art of war and makes
it well shockingly relevant to us today.

Speaker 1 (00:57):
Oh.

Speaker 2 (00:57):
Absolutely think of this deep dive as like extracting those
golden nuggets of wisdom that you can actually use in
your life, whether you're you know, at a career crossroads,
trying to achieve a personal goal, or just want to
be a little more strategic in your thinking.

Speaker 1 (01:11):
It all starts with this understanding that strategy and you know,
being self aware. These are actually skills that you can
get better at right, no matter what you're dealing with.

Speaker 2 (01:19):
I love that. So the article kicks off with this line.
That's well, it's practically famous at this point. Every battle
is won before it is fought, now, before anyone starts thinking,
we're you know, gearing up for actual combat. Here, the
message is all about the power of preparation.

Speaker 1 (01:38):
Exactly and acknowledging that forethought. It's really key no matter
what field you're in. Think about it, launching a business,
we're going for a big promotion, even just planning a vacation.
It all goes so much smoother when you have a
clear strategy in place, and when you try to anticipate
those potential roadblocks ahead of time.

Speaker 2 (01:56):
You know what you are preaching to the choir of
this One time, I was so eager, so gung ho
to get a project off the ground at work that
I basically well, I skipped the whole detailed planning part Oh,
talk about a recipe.

Speaker 1 (02:11):
For disaster and how did that turn out?

Speaker 2 (02:13):
It was like trying to navigate amaze in the dark,
every step of the way, roadblock after roadblock, and honestly
we could have seen most of them coming if we'd
just taken a little bit of time to actually plan
things out.

Speaker 1 (02:25):
Wow.

Speaker 2 (02:26):
It was a tough lesson, but a valuable one for sure. Sometimes,
you know, slowing down to plan, Yeah, it's actually the
fastest way to get where you want to go.

Speaker 1 (02:33):
Who knew? Right, Well, since you knew, And it's something
we often forget in our you know, fast paced rush rush,
rush world. We just want to jump into things. We
don't want to be slowed down by planning, but that
can really set us up for unnecessary setbacks. Instead, what
if we just took the time to define really clearly
what is it we want to achieve, break it down

(02:54):
into smaller steps, manageable steps, and then think about what
are the challenges that might pop up along the way,
What could go wrong? Right, It's all about setting yourself
up for success from the very beginning.

Speaker 2 (03:06):
And let's not forget about those backup plans. Yeah, because
let's base it. Things rarely go exactly as planned.

Speaker 1 (03:13):
Absolutely not, And that actually brings us to another one
of sun Zoo's gems. He said that in the midst
of chaos, there is also opportunity.

Speaker 2 (03:22):
And this is something that you know, it was written
centuries ago, yeah, but it feels so relevant to the
world we live in today.

Speaker 1 (03:32):
Oh, it's so true.

Speaker 2 (03:33):
I mean, everything's constantly changing at warp speed. Industries are
morphing into something new, the markets are fluctuating like crazy.
And don't even get me started on our personal lives. Oh,
I know, sometimes it feels like a roller coaster. Yeah,
a lot to keep up with.

Speaker 1 (03:46):
It's overwhelming, right, and think about just technology alone, Oh
my gosh, yes, how that has completely reshaped the way
we work, the way we communicate. Skills that used to
be you know, top notch, cutting edge can become obsolete
so quickly, in the blink of an eye. And so
while this kind of constant change can feel kind of intimidating,

(04:08):
even scary, it also presents amazing, amazing opportunities for those
who are willing to you know, ride the wave.

Speaker 2 (04:16):
So the takeaway here is that change isn't something to
be afraid of, but instead it's a chance to evolve exactly.

Speaker 1 (04:23):
It's all about shifting that perspective, looking at change as
a chance for growth, not something to shy away from.
And you know, don't be afraid to change your approach
if you need to. Sometimes those unexpected turns they lead
to the most rewarding destinations.

Speaker 2 (04:38):
It's so true. Instead of well, we've always done it
this way, it's like, okay, what can we learn from.

Speaker 1 (04:42):
This, right, what's the opportunity here?

Speaker 2 (04:44):
Exactly?

Speaker 1 (04:45):
And being agile, being able to spot those signals of
change early on, and then taking the initiative to you know,
learn new skills.

Speaker 2 (04:53):
Or to tweak your approach. Oh okay, that's how you
stay ahead of the curve.

Speaker 1 (04:57):
It's like that old saying, the only constant is change, right.
And I'll be honest, I used to be somebody who
is very resistant to change. But now I look back
and I'm like, some of the most rewarding experiences I
had have come from those times when I had to,
you know, adjust my sales a little bit and embrace
something new.

Speaker 2 (05:15):
Yeah. That's definitely in line with Sunsei's philosophy. He wouldn't
want us to just kind of you know, grit our
teeth and bear it. He wants us to learn to
navigate by using the stars that come out after a storm.

Speaker 1 (05:29):
And speaking of navigating, let's talk about another one of
Sun Zu's big takeaways, knowing yourself and as he puts it,
knowing your battlefield. And this is a big one even
if we're not talking about literal battlefields here, Sunsu says,
and I'm quoting here, know your enemy and know yourself,

(05:50):
and you will not be imperiled in a hundred battles. Okay,
So how do we translate knowing your.

Speaker 2 (05:56):
Enemy to you know, the typical challenges we face today
in the modern world.

Speaker 1 (06:00):
Yeah, it's a great question. It's about really understanding the
landscape that you're operating in, whether that's you know, a
competitive field that you're in, a particular project that you're
working on, or even like you said, your own internal landscape, right.

Speaker 2 (06:14):
Because sometimes the biggest challenges we face aren't external, right.
So true, it's that inner critic, those limiting beliefs we have, absolutely,
or maybe sometimes we're even just not fully aware of
our own strengths. Right, It's like we're battling ourselves.

Speaker 1 (06:29):
Yeah, you're battling those voices in your head. Exactly those doubts,
those fears, and so that self awareness piece is so critical.
I think Sensu would tell us to really take stock
of our skills, our values, what really drives us, what
are we truly good at, and where do we have
some room to grow? Right, And it's that honest self
reflection that then allows us to really leverage our strengths

(06:51):
and then work on those areas that might be holding
us back.

Speaker 2 (06:54):
It's so true, you know that saying our biggest critic
is usually the voice in our own head. Yeah, but
then once you kind of have a handle on that
inner critics, then you can start looking outward. Right, You've
got to understand the battlefield that you're operating in. So,
for instance, if you're going for a promotion, it's not
enough just to be good at your job. You've really

(07:16):
got to understand what are the company's goals? Absolutely, what's
the office dynamic.

Speaker 1 (07:20):
The politics.

Speaker 2 (07:21):
A little bit of office politics never hurt anybody, It's true.

Speaker 1 (07:24):
It's about gathering information, connecting those dots, using that knowledge
to your advantage. You want to try to anticipate those challenges,
understand people's motivations, and then position yourself strategically.

Speaker 2 (07:36):
It's almost like being a detective, right. I like that
you're searching for those clues, analyzing all the evidence, and
then you make your move. And speaking of making moves,
Sunsu had a lot to say about timing he did,
he said he will win. Who knows when to fight
and when not to fight? How do we apply that
kind of strategic thinking in today's world, which like go go, go,

(08:01):
go go.

Speaker 1 (08:01):
It's such a good point because it's so easy in
this like always on culture that we're in to feel
this pressure to just say yes to everything right, to
chase every single opportunity. But you know what Sensu is
really getting at here is we need to be mindful
of our energy, of our resources. Not every opportunity is

(08:22):
worth pursuing, Not every battle has to be fought right,
and sometimes that strategic patience that's the real key.

Speaker 2 (08:30):
So it's about knowing when the time is right, yes,
but also knowing when to walk away absolutely or maybe
just be patient and wait for a better moment, a
better opportunity.

Speaker 1 (08:39):
Exactly, be really really intentional with your energy and choose
your battles wisely, which actually leads us to another point
about collaboration.

Speaker 2 (08:47):
Oh, collaboration. Yes, this is one of my favorite topics.
Oh good, because I'm a huge believer in teamwork. And
some too famously said and I love this visual. He said,
Regard your soldiers as your children, and they will follow
you into the deepest valleys. Look upon them as your
own beloved sons, and they will stand by you even

(09:08):
unto death. Wow. I mean that really paints a picture,
doesn't it. It does about just how powerful these bonds
can be.

Speaker 1 (09:16):
Yeah, and it highlights how absolutely crucial strong relationships are
to your success, no matter what you're trying to achieve,
whether you're part of a company, you're working on some
creative project, or just navigating life in general. Having a
solid support system a sense of camaraderie it makes all
the difference in the world.

Speaker 2 (09:34):
I've never really accomplished anything meaningful or worthwhile completely on
my own. It's always a team effort.

Speaker 1 (09:41):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (09:41):
But you know, I've also learned along the way that
it's not just about having a bunch of people around you.
It's about nurturing that trust and respect. Oh absolutely, And
that's how you build a team that can well whether
any storm. It really is it's not just about putting
a bunch of talented people in a room. It's about
having that shared sense of purpose, understanding each other's strengths absolutely,

(10:02):
and that's when you get that real synergy.

Speaker 1 (10:04):
Right, It's where the magic happens. And you know, it
reminds me something else, since you talked about in terms
of how we approach challenges, that whole idea of being
prepared for well, the scene and the unseen.

Speaker 2 (10:15):
Oh okay, tell me more about that.

Speaker 1 (10:16):
So he had this line I'm paraphrasing here, but he
basically said, the most important thing in war is to
attack the enemy's strategy. Now, obviously we're not talking about
actual warfare here, no, no, no, But how do we
take this idea of like disrupting strategy and apply it
to the stuff we deal with every day?

Speaker 2 (10:37):
That's the big question, right, it.

Speaker 1 (10:38):
Is, And it's recognizing that success isn't just about you know,
preparing for the obvious thing. It's the stuff you can
see coming a mile away. Okay, It's about developing this
like foresight, you know, thinking really critically about the risks,
the challenges, the things that might be lurking beneath the
surface that you haven't even thought about. Yet so being proactive,
not just reactive, exactly, taking your strategy to a whole

(11:02):
other level. Instead of just like reacting to things as
they happen, you're thinking, Okay, what could go wrong here?
And more importantly, what can I do to either prevent
that from happening or actually use it to my advantage.

Speaker 2 (11:16):
It's like having that backup plan ready to go, and
maybe even a backup plan for your backup.

Speaker 1 (11:21):
Plan exactly, because let's be honest, life it throws curveballs,
yes it does, and it's about being ready for those
unexpected detours.

Speaker 2 (11:30):
So it's like playing chess.

Speaker 1 (11:31):
Oooh, I like that.

Speaker 2 (11:32):
You're not just thinking about your next move, you're thinking
several moves ahead, yes, and you're trying to anticipate what
your opponent might do.

Speaker 1 (11:39):
You've got to be strategic. It takes analytical thinking, yes,
a little bit of intuition, that gut feeling, and that
ability to make a decision even when you don't have
all the information.

Speaker 2 (11:49):
It's true, and Sunsu was all about strategy.

Speaker 1 (11:52):
He was the master.

Speaker 2 (11:53):
But here's the big one, the principle that's maybe the
most powerful of all winning without fighting.

Speaker 1 (12:01):
Ah, yes, the ultimate victory, right, It is achieving what
you set out to do, overcoming those obstacles, but without
that conflict, without that force. It's about finding those win
win scenarios.

Speaker 2 (12:14):
I love that. And to quote Censu again here, he said,
the supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy
without fighting. And again we've been saying this throughout our
whole deep dive. We're not talking about actual fighting here.
So how do we actually live that out? How do
we embrace this idea of winning without fighting?

Speaker 1 (12:31):
I think it starts with really looking for those win
win solutions whenever possible, right, finding that common ground, building
bridges instead of walls.

Speaker 2 (12:39):
It's about understanding that working together, being willing to compromise
a little can sometimes lead to much better outcomes, absolutely
than if we just approach every situation like it's a
battle that we have to win.

Speaker 1 (12:51):
That's right, and choosing to understand rather than judge, to
empathize instead of blaming.

Speaker 2 (12:56):
I love that. It's so easy to get caught up
in that us versus them of thinking all the time,
and Censor's reminding us there's a different way. It's realizing that,
you know what, we're all in this together. We are
and sometimes the greatest victories come from those solutions that
work for everyone involved.

Speaker 1 (13:12):
That's such a good point because it reminds us that
real strength it's not about overpowering others, it's about empowering
each other.

Speaker 2 (13:21):
I love that As we wrap up our deep dive
into the amazing strategies of Sunset, I think the biggest
thing we can take away from all of this is
that his wisdom it goes way beyond just the battlefield.
Beyond it's about taking those timeless principles of like you said,
strategic thinking, knowing ourselves, being willing to collaborate, yes, and

(13:41):
then using all of that to navigate this crazy world
we live in.

Speaker 1 (13:45):
Because those principles they're timeless for a reason.

Speaker 2 (13:48):
That's right.

Speaker 1 (13:49):
They work. They can really guide us toward a more fulfilling,
a more strategic, a more impactful life, no matter what
we might be going through.

Speaker 2 (13:57):
And who knows, maybe if we all embrace these principles
a little more, the world would be a slightly more harmonious.

Speaker 1 (14:02):
Place, right, a little more peace and a little less battling.
I'll take it.

Speaker 2 (14:05):
It's a victory worth striving for. While on that note,
here's something for everyone to think about As you go
about your day, think of a challenge that you're facing,
something that's been on your mind, and ask yourself, how
can I use even just one of Censu's principles to
approach this with a little more clarity, a little more strategy,
or maybe even find a more peaceful way to resolve it.

(14:27):
Until next time, keep exploring, keep learning, and we'll see
you on our next deep dive.
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