Your Job Search and Future Prospects Will Be Determined by the Company You Keep

I have had the most unusual series of interviews over the past few weeks. Yesterday I interviewed a woman who came in smelling like alcohol–to such an extent that my eyes were watering. I asked her about her record and she told me that she had a DUI but “all that was behind her now.” She then wanted to make sure that this was not something that would “prejudice me” against hiring her. I must admit that since I was interviewing this woman for a job that involved a lot of driving, it sure as hell [Read more]

The Art of War

The Art of War by Sun Tzu is an excellent book that contains numerous powerful life and career lessons. It is considered one of the most successful books on military strategy ever written. The book recognizes that planning and strategy are influenced by the environment and conditions around us. You cannot simply prepare a plan and follow it blindly. It is my pleasure to share with you The Art of War. I have referred to this great work many times throughout my career. I have also heard many very successful people refer to it as inspirational and quote from it. The book contains a strong message and can benefit you immensely.

The Art of War

by Sun Tzu

Table of Contents

1. Section I: Laying Plans
2. Section II: Waging War
3. Section III: Attack by Stratagem
4. Section IV: Tactical Dispositions
5. Section V: Energy
6. Section VI: Weak Points and Strong
7. Section VII: Maneuvering
8. Section VIII: Variation in Tactics
9. Section IX: The Army on the March
10. Section X: Terrain
11. Section XI: The Nine Situations
12. Section XII: The Attack by Fire
13. Section XIII: The Use of Spies

Section I: Laying Plans

1. Sun Tzu said: The art of war is of vital importance to the State.
2. It is a matter of life and death, a road either to safety or to ruin. Hence it is a subject of inquiry which can on no account be neglected.
3. The art of war, then, is governed by five constant factors, to be taken into account in one’s deliberations, when seeking to determine the conditions obtaining in the field.
4. These are:
   1. The Moral Law;
   2. Heaven;
   3. Earth;
   4. The Commander;
   5. Method and discipline.
5. The Moral Law causes the people to be in complete accord with their ruler, so that they will follow him regardless of their lives, undismayed by any danger.
6. Heaven signifies night and day, cold and heat, times and seasons.
7. Earth comprises distances, great and small; danger and security; open ground and narrow passes; the chances of life and death.
8. The Commander stands for the virtues of wisdom, sincerity, benevolence, courage and strictness.
9. By method and discipline are to be understood the marshaling of the army in its proper subdivisions, the graduations of rank among the officers, the maintenance of roads by which supplies may reach the army, and the control of military expenditure.

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