Last week, we identified seven principles for achieving our own greatest victories in life and we discussed in detail the first four.
Today, we discuss the final three, so let’s dive back into the second half of Chapter 4.3 of Sunzi’s Art of War, which reads:
古之善戰者, 勝于易勝者; 故善戰者之勝也, 無智名, 無勇功。故其戰勝不忒, 不忒者, 其措必勝, 勝已敗者也。故善戰者, 立于不敗之地, 而不失敵之敗也。是故勝兵先勝, 而後求戰; 敗兵先戰, 而後求勝。
Of old those who exceled in combat conquered the easily conquerable; therefore, in their victories, those who exceled in combat did not have reputations for wisdom or courageous feats of accomplishment. Their victories in battle were because they didn’t make mistakes due to doubt. Being free from mistakes, they amassed guaranteed victories – victories over the already defeated. Therefore, those who excel at warfare, having established themselves in an undefeatable position, don’t lose out on defeating their enemies. For this reason, victorious troops first conquer and then seek battle; defeated troops first battle and then seek victory.
The three final principles for achieving our own greatest victories in life, which focus on execution – how we actually get there, are:
5. It Doesn’t Take Wisdom or Fame, Bravery or Accomplishment to Get Started – Just Stop Doubting Yourself!
6. Put Yourself in Undefeatable Positions and Don’t Miss Out on Your Opportunities to Win!
7. First Become Victorious and then Go to War!
In addressing this topic, we’re going to work backwards because each of these three final principles are linked in a causal chain.
7. First Become Victorious and then Go to War!
The last of Sunzi’s seven principles for achieving the greatest victories in life is to become victorious first and then go to war.
This is what distinguishes the victors from the vanquished, the winners from the losers. Winners become victorious before they enter the field of combat or competition. The easily defeated find themselves in situations with no plan of attack, no exit strategy, and therefore no plan for winning and in the midst of it all they try to figure out if and how they can pull out a victory.
Victory begins within – it’s not just a destination, but a way of being.
6. Put Yourself in Undefeatable Positions and Don’t Miss Out on Your Opportunities to Win!
The sixth of Sunzi’s seven principles for achieving the greatest victories in life is to put ourselves in undefeatable positions.
The reason that winners win, victors are victorious, and conquerors conquer first – before they step out onto the battlefield of business, the arena of achievement, or into the trenches of trial and tribulation is that they put themselves in undefeatable positions and thus were able to capitalize on their openings, take their shots, and not miss out on opportunities to defeat their internal enemies.
This is all about positioning ourselves, setting ourselves up for success instead of defeat and not missing out on the openings and opportunities that life presents to those who watch, work, and wait for the opportune moment.
5. It Doesn’t Take Wisdom or Fame, Bravery or Accomplishment to Get Started – Just Stop Doubting Yourself!
The fifth of Sunzi’s seven principles for achieving the greatest victories in our lives is that we don’t need to have any prerequisites to get started.
The obstacle is not that we aren’t smart enough, wise enough, or knowledgeable enough. It’s not that we don’t have a name, fame, or reputation; it’s not that we haven’t demonstrated enough bravery or accomplished enough worthwhile achievements in our lives yet – those are not the things that prevent us from winning in our lives.
No, what prevents us from winning in our lives is doubt – debilitating doubt.
The mightiest victories are often born from the ashes of the most crippling doubts. Acknowledge our doubts, learn from them, but never let them dictate the direction of our journey.
Previous Episodes Referenced in this Episode:
Warrior Mindset: Episode 30 “Defeating Defensiveness: Sunzi’s Seven Insights on Scarcity, Abundance, and the Warrior Mindset”
The hardest battles are in our minds: Episode 0 “Introduction to Warrior: The Art of War for Life”
Take advantage of opportunity: Episode 13 “Three Secret Strategies for Overcoming Our (Inner) Enemies”
The price of defeat: Episode 27 “Know Thyself & Understand Others: The Secret to Becoming Unbreakable”
The third principle: Episode 28 “Sunzi’s Top Priority: Four Principles to Become Unconquerable”
Wisdom and bravery: Episode 4 “Level Up Your Leadership: Sunzi’s Five Attributes of Great Leaders and How to Develop Them”
Debilitating doubt: Episode 6 “Sunzi’s Six Traps of Self-Deception and How to Avoid Them”
Doubts are the double-agents of our insufficiencies: Episode 18 “Four Steps to Attack Your Day!”
For more information, tools, and resources to help you in your daily battles, for questions or to work with us, shoot us an email at artofwarforlife@gmail.com and follow us on Facebook and Instagram at Art of War for Life Facebook page and @artofwarforlife.
The views expressed in this podcast are my own and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the United States Air Force Academy, the Air Force, the Department of Defense, or the US Government. Thank you.
Warrior: The Art of War for Life - A Podcast on Winning 