the sun tzu paradox

8/13/2019 The Sun Tzu Paradox

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-sun-tzu-paradox 1/50

Laertis 1



Sun Tzu

The Person



Background

Sun Wu , better known as Sun Tzu or Sunzi (pronounced[swə n ts ]), was an ancient Chinese military general, strategistand philosopher who is traditionally believed, and who is most

likely, to have authored the Art of War , an influential ancientChinese book on military strategy. Sun Tzu has had asignificant impact on Chinese and Asian history and culture,both as an author of the Art of War and through legend.During the 19th and 20th centuries, Sun Tzu's Art o f War grew in popularity and saw practical use in Western society,and his work has continued to influence both Asian andWestern culture and politics

Laertis 3



Background (cont’d)Historians have questioned whether or not Sun Tzu wasan authentic historical figure. Traditional accounts placehim in the Spring and Autumn Period of China (722 –481BC) as a military general serving under King Helü of Wu,who lived c. 544 —496 BC. Modern scholars acceptinghis historical place the completion of The Ar t of War inthe Warring States Period (476 –221 BC), based on the

descriptions of warfare in the text, and on the similarity oftext's prose to other works completed in the earlyWarring States period

Laertis 4



Statue of Sun Tzu inYurihama, Tottori, Japan

Laertis 5



6



The 13 Chapters

Laertis 7



The Essence Of The Art Of War Is:

To know yourself and youropponentTo make victory the only optionTo shape your opponent’sstrategyTo invest in intelligenceresourcesTo make time your allyTo make the devious route themost directTo be disruptive and intrusive

To know the weaknesses ofyour opponentTo drive your competitioncrazy

To think out of the noiseTo make your opponent part ofyour forceTo think, meditate, visualizeand plan aheadTo handle information betterthan anyone elseTo win without fighting

Laertis 8



Sun Tzu’s WarSamples Of Wisdom



Deception

All war is based on deception.

All war is deception.

All warfare is based on deception

Laertis 10



Laertis 11



Laertis 12



Laertis 13



Laertis 14



Laertis 15



Generals/Leaders That Ignored Sun

Tzu’s Advice and Paid The Price Alexander The Great --- IndiaHannibal --- Italy

Robert Lee --- GettysburgNapoleon --- RussiaHitler --- RussiaLyndon Johnson --- Viet Nam

George W. Bush --- Afghanistan

Laertis 16



Laertis 17



If She Can Read It …

Laertis 18



Laertis 19



Laertis 20



Strategy

Thus, what is of supreme importance in war is to attackthe enemy's strategy

Speed is the essence of war. Take advantage of theenemy's unpreparedness; travel by unexpected routesand strike him where he has taken no precautions

Laertis 21



Strategy

The expert in battle seeks his victory from strategicadvantage and does not demand it from his men

Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory.Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat

Laertis 22



Formula For Defeat

These are the six ways of courting defeat – neglect toestimate the enemy’s strength; want of authority;defective training; unjustifiable anger; nonobservance ofdiscipline; failure to use picked men . . .

Laertis 23



Sun Tzu’sLeadership Wisdom



Laertis 25



Laertis 26



Leadership

For them to perceive the advantage of defeating theenemy, they must also have their rewards

If ignorant both of your enemy and yourself, you arecertain to be in peril.

Regard your soldiers as your children , and they willfollow you into the deepest valleys; look on them as yourown beloved sons, and they will stand by you even untodeath

Laertis 27



Laertis 28



Laertis 29



Please Visit The Website For More Wisdom30



Five Elements for Comparing

Competitive PositionPhilosophy: A competitor with a strong philosophy is astrong competitor. A clear philosophy makes decision-making easier. Understanding your competitor's philosophyallows you to predict them.

Heaven (Insight): Trends over time that are beyond yourcontrol. You must foresee these changes to adjust to them.

Laertis 31




Competitive PositionGround: It is both where you fight and what you fight for.The Ground is the basis of all competition because it iswhat people are fighting about. Competitors aredistinguished by the position they hold on the ground.You can and must chose the ground over which youbattle. Your choice of ground is a key aspect of yoursuccess.

Laertis 32




Competitive PositionLeader: The success of the competitive unit depends onfive qualities in its leader: bravery, intelligence,strictness, trust in and care about people.

Methods: Methods have five qualities the make themeffective: systems, organization, learning, support, andstandards.

Laertis 33



The Four Skills

The five elements that define a competitive position alsocreate the four skills that define the competitor'sinteraction with the competitive environment:

KnowingVision

ActionPositioning

Laertis 34



LIFE Of The Leader

Leadership

Information (and Wisdom)

Focus

Execution

Laertis 35

Must excel in all ofthem --- if not alone,with the help of

others



What Is SPARKLE?

Character can be assessed in terms of seven factors:S elf-Image, P urpose, Accomplishment,Responsibility, Knowledge, Loyalty and Ego(expressed in Excellence and Effort). The effectivenessof organizational activities, and indeed its verysubstance, depends on the tone and quality of thecharacter of its leaders

Laertis 36



Leadership

When the common soldiers are too strong and theirofficers too weak, the result is INSUBORDINATION.When the officers are too strong and the commonsoldiers too weak, the result is COLLAPSE. When thehigher officers are angry and insubordinate, and onmeeting the enemy give battle on their own account froma feeling of resentment, before the commander-in-chief

can tell whether or no he is in a position to fight, theresult is RUIN

Laertis 37



Leadership

A leader leads by example not by force

Engage people with what they expect ; it is what theyare able to discern and confirms their projections. Itsettles them into predictable patterns of response,occupying their minds while you wait for theextraordinary moment — that which they cannotanticipate

Laertis 39



Leadership

If words of command are not clear and distinct , iforders are not thoroughly understood, the general is toblame. But if his orders are clear, and the soldiersnevertheless disobey, then it is the fault of their officers

What enables the wise sovereign and the good generalto strike and conquer and achieve things beyond thereach of ordinary men is fo reknow ledge (= wisd om )

Laertis 40



Leadership

The general who wins the battle makes manycalculations in his temple before the battle is fought.The general who loses makes but few calculationsbeforehand

Too frequent rewards indicate that the general is at theend of his resources; too frequent punishments that heis in acute distress (wise use of sticks and carrots)

Laertis 41



Sun Tzu’s SpiritualWisdom



Key Spiritual Messages

Prevent conflicts before they arisePeacefully and quickly resolve conflicts when they doarise

Act with courage, intelligence, and benevolence inadversarial situationsConvert potential enemies into friendsControl your emotions before they control you

Laertis 43



Spiritual Flavor

In peace prepare for war, in war prepare for peace

Treat your men as you would your own belovedsons . And they will follow you into the deepest valley

You have to believe in yourself

Laertis 44



Spiritual Flavor

Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, whiledefeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win(it’s all aboutattitude )

(Positive Attitude and The Power of Intention)

The enlightened ruler is heedful , and the good generalfull of caution

Laertis 45



Spiritual Flavor

It is only the enlightened ruler and the wise general whowill use the highest intelligence of the army for thepurposes of spying (= learning and observing), and

thereby they achieve great results

Opportunities multiply as they are seized (oneopportunity opens many other doors) ( courage andfaith to move ahead)

Laertis 46



Spiritual Flavor

Military tactics are like unto water; for water in its naturalcourse runs away from high places and hastensdownwards... Water shapes its course according to the

nature of the ground over which it flows; the soldierworks out his victory in relation to the foe whom he isfacing. Therefore, just as water retains no constantshape, so in warfare there are no constant conditions.

He who can modify his tactics (and is flexible) in relationto his opponent and thereby succeed in winning, may becalled a heaven-born captain

Laertis 47



Spiritual Flavor

Unhappy is the fate of one who tries to win his battlesand succeed in his attacks without cultivating the spirit ofenterprise (endeavor + teamwork + innovation) for the

result is waste of time and general stagnation. Hence thesaying: The enlightened ruler lays his plans well ahead;the good general cultivates his resources

The masterful leader cultivates the moral law , andstrictly adheres to proper methods and discipline; thus itis in his power to control success

Laertis 48



Interesting Myth About Sun Tzu

Once he won the war and opened the door for his Lordto new riches and power he left his command anddisappeared in the into the backwoods of China. He

became a commoner realizing that riches and powercorrupt people. He was more spiritual than anyonethought. He lived a paradoxical life . He was a warmonger and yet he yearned for peace; he was a master

of deception and yet he loathed it, he proposed cunningand manipulation and yet he despised it, he earnedriches and yet he walked away from them

Laertis 49



Discussion

Do you feel that Sun Tzuoffered the right advice?Can we live with the paradox?

the sun tzu paradox

Documents