Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Okay, so get ready because today we're talking about using
ancient wisdom for like everyday stuff.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
Yeah, we're diving into sons is the art of war?
Speaker 1 (00:09):
Whoa hold on the art of war? I'm not preparing
for battle anytime soon, unless you count battling traffic on
the way.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
To work exactly. But that's the cool part we aren't
you know, before you roll it out, think of it
this way, sun Su is all about strategy, right, Okay,
so instead of actual warfare, we're going to look at
how these principles apply to everyday situations, like, think about it,
how to handle a tough conversation at work, or you know,
dealing with a mountain of laundry.
Speaker 1 (00:37):
Okay, I'm listening.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
It's all about conquering those daily challenges, just maybe not
with like actual weapons.
Speaker 1 (00:43):
All right, So how does a military treatise from ancient
China help me conquer? Say my inbox?
Speaker 2 (00:49):
He says something really smart. If you know the enemy
and know yourself, you need not fear the result of
one hundred battles.
Speaker 1 (00:55):
Okay, but my inbox isn't trying to attack.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
Me, I hope, right, But think about what he's really saying.
It's about self awareness. It's like knowing your strength so
you can use them, but also being real about your
weaknesses so they don't trip you up.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
So it's not about thinking you're a superhero who can
handle anything exactly.
Speaker 2 (01:12):
It's about knowing when to delegate that mountain of laundry
instead of letting it pile up even more.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
Ooh, tell me about it. Laundry day is my nemesis.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
See Sunsu gets you. He'd probably say something like know thyself.
Speaker 1 (01:25):
So more like know thyself and maybe invest in a
bigger washing machine.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
He'd probably be down with that. But seriously, taking stock
of your strengths and weaknesses is like step one.
Speaker 1 (01:34):
All right, So how do we actually do that?
Speaker 2 (01:36):
Think about it? How well do you handle pressure? Public speaking?
What about time management?
Speaker 1 (01:41):
Oh? Man, don't even get me started on time management.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
See there you go, self awareness in action. But on
a serious note, there are a bunch of ways to
get to know yourself.
Speaker 1 (01:50):
Better, like what give me the ancient secrets?
Speaker 2 (01:54):
Well? Sunsu was a big fan of strategy, so he'd
probably suggests something like journaling.
Speaker 1 (01:58):
Journaling, Okay, exactly what I was expecting, but I'm open
to it.
Speaker 2 (02:02):
It doesn't have to be super complicated, right, Just taking
a few minutes each day to reflect, what are you
good at? Where do you struggle?
Speaker 1 (02:10):
And be honest with myself even if it's not pretty exactly.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
Honesty is key here, even if it's just you and
the journal.
Speaker 1 (02:18):
And once I've had this brutally honest conversation with myself,
then what.
Speaker 2 (02:22):
Then you can start making decisions that play to your strengths,
delegate tasks that make you want to hide under your.
Speaker 1 (02:27):
Desk, so basically, work smarter, not harder.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
Since you would definitely approve of that message.
Speaker 1 (02:32):
Okay, I'm starting to see the wisdom in this whole
know thyself thing. Yeah, but let's be real. Sometimes life
throws you a curveball even when you think you've got
it all figured out.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
What happens then, well that's where Sunsu's next principle comes in,
and it's a big one. Every battle is won before
it is fought.
Speaker 1 (02:49):
Wait a second, hold up, are we talking about planning here?
Speaker 2 (02:52):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (02:52):
Because if so, you've lost me.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
We are talking about planning. But hear me up, I
know you're more of a go with the flow kind
of person. If he's charged, But Sunsu would argue that
a little planning goes a long way, and he's got
a point.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
Okay, I'm willing to be convinced, but you've got your
work cut out for you.
Speaker 2 (03:10):
Think about it this way. Remember that time you decided
to go on that spontaneous road trip without any planning whatsoever.
Speaker 1 (03:17):
How could you possibly forget? It's a legendary tale of adventure,
mishaps and questionable roadside diners.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
Exactly. Now, imagine if you had done just a little
bit of planning beforehand, packed some snacks, maybe a map,
booked a hotel room.
Speaker 1 (03:33):
Okay, point taken. Yeah, a little planning might have saved
me from that night I spent sleeping in.
Speaker 2 (03:37):
My car, exactly. And that's what since he was getting
at he understood that while spontaneity can be fun, a
little planning can save you a whole lot of trouble
down the line. It's about minimizing those moments when you're like,
why didn't I think of that before?
Speaker 1 (03:51):
Okay? But where do I even start? I mean, every
battle is won before it fought. Sounds a little dramatic
for just trying to get through my to do list.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
Well, he gives us the tools right about breaking things
down making a plan easier.
Speaker 1 (04:02):
Said than done, my friend, But I'm all ears.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
Think of it like creating a strategy for your day
to day. What do you want to accomplish, and then
think how to break those goals down into smaller steps.
Speaker 1 (04:15):
Okay, So for that road trip, instead of just being like,
let's hit the road, I should have like actually planned
a route.
Speaker 2 (04:21):
You got. It's like looking at a map before you
just take off, you know.
Speaker 1 (04:24):
Okay, that makes sense. I'm not gonna lie. Usually just
depend on my phone's GPS. But I can see how
actually thinking ahead about where I'm going and what I
need could prevent some serious headaches.
Speaker 2 (04:36):
And that's just it. Sun Sue was all about anticipating
those potential headaches. He'd probably tell you to think about
like what could go wrong, Like what if you hit
a traffic jam, what if your GPS freaks out?
Speaker 1 (04:46):
Oh man, don't even put that out there. I've totally
been there, stuck in the middle of nowhere with a
dying phone, battery, no signal. It's not pretty.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
Exactly, So sons, who would say, plan for that, pack
a charger, a map, extra snacks, you know, just in case.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
Okay, So it's all about being prepared for the unexpected.
Now it's starting to think this sun Su guy was
onto something right.
Speaker 2 (05:07):
It's about taking control of the situation before the situation
controls you.
Speaker 1 (05:11):
Okay, that's actually a really good way to put it.
It's like taking charge of your own destiny, one planned
out step at a time.
Speaker 2 (05:17):
I like it. You're getting it all right.
Speaker 1 (05:19):
So I'm sold on planning, at least in theory. But
what about when things inevitably go wrong? Because let's face it,
life rarely goes according to plan.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
You're preaching to the choir, things happen. But that's where
Sunsu's next principle comes in, and it's all about adaptability.
He said something like, in the midst of chaos, there
is also opportunity.
Speaker 1 (05:40):
Ooh, I like that. Did he just drop some ancient
wisdom on us?
Speaker 2 (05:45):
And it's so relevant even today. He's saying that instead
of freaking out when things don't go our way, we
should look for those opportunities that change brings.
Speaker 1 (05:53):
Okay, I can get behind that, But easier said than done, right, Like,
how do we actually train myself to be more adaptable?
Speaker 2 (06:01):
Well, first off, don't be afraid to deviate from the plan.
Speaker 1 (06:03):
Wait, really, you're giving me permission to like throw the
plan out the window.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
Not necessarily throw it out, but be open to adjusting it.
Remember it's about working with the changes, not against them.
Speaker 1 (06:15):
Okay, so it's more like the plan is fluid, not
set in stone. I can work with that.
Speaker 2 (06:22):
There you go, And you know what else helps with adaptability?
Tell me everything, try to find that silver lining.
Speaker 1 (06:28):
Oh you mean, like looking for the good in every situation,
even when it feels like everything's going wrong.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
Exactly, it's a total game changer. Like that time you
missed your train because you were chatting with that street
musician and then you stumbled upon this amazing hidden bookstore.
Speaker 1 (06:42):
Okay, that was a good day. But that's exactly what
I'm talking about. If I hadn't missed that train, I
would missed out on that whole experience.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
And that right there, that's sunsu in action. It's about
seeing the potential in every situation, even the ones that
seem like setbacks.
Speaker 1 (06:55):
Okay, I'm convinced adaptability it is. I'm going to embrace
the k and find those silver linings, even when they're
hidden behind a mountain of laundry.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
Now you're talking that's the spirit. And speaking of knowing
when to act and when to maybe take a step back,
Sunse had something to say about that too. He said,
he will win who knows when to fight and when
not to fight.
Speaker 1 (07:17):
Ooh, that's a good one. I feel like that's something
I need to remind myself of on a daily basis,
especially in our world where everything's so fast paced. Were
constantly bombarded with information and there's this pressure to like
respond to everything.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
Immediately, preach like that.
Speaker 1 (07:33):
So it's like, don't just react, respond.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
Right exactly, And that takes discipline, especially in the heat
of the moment, but the payoff can be huge. Think
about it. How many times have you regretted sending that
email or saying that thing in the heat of the moment?
Speaker 1 (07:47):
Oh? More times than I care to admit. What about it?
But okay, I'm getting it. Patience is a virtue. Timing
is everything. Choose your battles wisely, got it, You're a natural.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
And speaking of choosing your battles, Sunsa had some pretty
radical ideas about how to approach conflict. He actually believed
that the supreme art of war is to subdue the
enemy without fighting.
Speaker 1 (08:11):
Hold on, wait a minute, did he just say win
without fighting. How is that even possible?
Speaker 2 (08:16):
Right? It sounds counterintuitive, but it's actually brilliant. What he's
getting at is that the best victories are the ones
where everyone wins.
Speaker 1 (08:22):
Okay, now you're just messing with me. How can everyone
win in a conflict?
Speaker 2 (08:26):
Well, it's not always easy, but Sonsa would say, it's
about shifting our perspective from I need to win at
all cost to how can we find a solution that
works for everyone involved?
Speaker 1 (08:35):
So it's like, instead of going head to head, we
should be looking for common ground exactly.
Speaker 2 (08:40):
It's about finding that win win scenario. It might mean compromising,
it might mean getting creative, but ultimately it's about preserving
relationships and achieving a more peaceful outcome.
Speaker 1 (08:50):
That makes a lot of sense actually, because sometimes holding
on to that need to be right to win every argument,
it just isn't worth it in the long run.
Speaker 2 (09:00):
Sunsu's wisdom in a nutshell, right, He's reminding us that
true strength lies in choosing our battles wisely and knowing
when to fight and when to find a more harmonious path.
Speaker 1 (09:09):
Wow, this has been eye opening. I feel like I
need to go back and reread the Art of War
with a whole new perspective.
Speaker 2 (09:15):
I think sons who would approve, he'd probably say something
like the journey of a thousand miles begins with a
single step.
Speaker 1 (09:21):
Or maybe the journey of understanding ancient wisdom from modern
living starts with a really good podcast.
Speaker 2 (09:27):
Now that's a Sunsei worthy quote if I ever heard one.
Speaker 1 (09:29):
All right, listeners, that's it for this deep died into
the surprisingly relevant wisdom of Sun SU's The Art of War. Remember,
even though it was written centuries ago, this engine text
is packed with timeless strategies for navigating the battlefield of life,
from mastering self awareness to planning like a pro, embracing adaptability,
choosing your battles wisely, and finding win win solutions. So
(09:51):
until next time, go forth and conquer those daily challenges
with a little help from Sunshu.