Building Unstoppable Momentum
Sun Tzu on how the flow gets strong “When torrential water tosses boulders, it is because of its momentum.” — Sun Tzu In a business, the heaviest obstacles aren’t usually moved by brute force. They’re moved by momentum. Like water gaining strength as it flows, momentum builds over time and starts to carry things that […]
Every Move Matters
Sun Tzu on planning without waste “In planning, never a useless move; in strategy, no step taken in vain.” — Sun Tzu If you’re like most owners I know, you’re busy almost all the time. Being busy doesn’t always mean being productive. Days get filled with tasks that feel urgent but don’t contribute to long-term […]
Visionary Leadership
Sun Tzu on seeing what others miss “To foresee a victory which the ordinary man can foresee is not the acme of skill.” — Sun Tzu This morning, reading The Art of War, I came across the story of Han Hsin. His strategy seemed absurd. His own generals doubted him. The Chao army mocked him […]
Focus on What You Can Control
Sun Tzu and the Serenity Prayer agree This morning I read this: “That which depends on me, I can do; that which depends on the enemy cannot be certain.” — Sun Tzu The passage reminds me of the Serenity Prayer: “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to […]
Timing is Everything
Sun Tzu on when to move and when to wait “He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight.” Timing can make or break a business. Sun Tzu understood this well. Acting too soon wastes resources. Waiting too long risks losing your advantage. For small business owners, knowing when to act […]
When the Unexpected Happens
Sun Tzu and Stockdale on the thunderclap I’ve been rereading The Art of War by Sun Tzu this year. This morning, this passage jumped out at me: “When the thunderclap comes, there is no time to cover the ears.” At first I thought it was a great metaphor for a surprise attack. Sun Tzu was […]
Extraordinary Speed
Sun Tzu on moving when the moment is there This morning I was reading The Art of War and one quote stood out: “What is of the greatest importance in war is extraordinary speed; one cannot afford to neglect opportunity.” Simple idea. Big implications for a small business. Acting quickly and decisively often makes the […]
What Hiking Taught Me About Business
Hiking in the mountains is one of my favorite things. I do it whenever I can. Over the years I’ve started to notice that the same mistakes show up on the trail that show up in business. When you’re new to hiking, most of your attention goes to the next rock or root. You spend […]
Read This: Find Your Red Thread by Tamsen Webster
If you’ve got a big idea and you can’t quite figure out how to make it land with the people you’re talking to, Find Your Red Thread by Tamsen Webster is the book I’d put in your hands. The Red Thread is Webster’s name for the underlying message or theme that runs through your idea, […]