Episode 33: Two Exemplary Abilities for Governing Victory and Defeat

In Chapter 4.4 of Sunzi’s Art of War we read:

善用兵者, 修道而保法, 故能為勝敗之政。

Those who excel at employing the military, cultivate the Way and maintain the standards of good order and discipline.  Therefore, they are capable of governing victory and defeat.

This passage outlines two key attributes of those who excel at employing the military to become the governors of victory and defeat.  These are the ability to cultivate the Way and maintain the laws of good order and discipline.

1. Cultivating the Way

The first of Sunzi’s two exemplary abilities for governing our own victory and defeat is the ability to cultivate the Way.  What exactly does that mean? 

In classical Chinese philosophy, the Dao or the Way is the substrate of the universe.  It is a myriad network of trails and tracks, connections and crossings, potentials and possibilities.  It is a set of steps and solutions, an ever-present array of openings, options, and opportunities, from wherever we find ourselves to wherever we want to go, from wherever we are right now, to wherever we want to be in any area of our lives.

The Dao is not just some road out there to be talked about.  It is a path to be trodden, to be walked, that will take us wherever we want to go if only we have the vision to see it, the courage to act on it, and the determination to stay on it until we arrive at our destination.  The Dao, then, is the Way of Leadership, it is the vision a leader has at the crossroads of choice to act and move in a direction.

Cultivating the Way is not about building a physical road but rather cultivating and as needed repairing our interface, how we interpret and engage with the Way at the crossroads of choice in three key areas: 

A. Cultivating Clarity of Vision on the Way

B. Cultivating Constructive Choices at the Crossroads

C. Developing An Intentional Direction for Our LIves

A. Cultivating Clarity Vision on the Way

Vision is a picture of the future that produces passion and purpose.  As the late great musician Neil Peart (1952-2020) suggested: “A spirit with a vision is a dream with a mission.” As Anglo-Irish satirist and poet Jonathan Swift (1667-1745), best known for the book Gulliver’s Travels said: “Vision is the art of seeing what is invisible to others.”

More important than what is invisible to others, is addressing what is invisible to us.  What are our blind spots?  What opportunities and options are we not seeing? We need to cultivate a broader, more expansive and expanding vision of ourselves, each other, and the world – that is what we need to cultivate our vision of the Way.

B. Cultivating Consistent Constructive Choices at the Crossroads

Only when we have an expanded vision, can we consistently cultivate more constructive choices at the crossroads of our lives. At every moment of every day we stand at the crossroads of choice.  Once we have a vision of our “Big Deal”, what is really important to us, what we want in our lives, out of our lives, and for our lives, then it makes decision making a whole lot easier.  Does this decision help me build towards what I want?  Is it constructive in that way?

 Or is it “destructive”, meaning it is tearing down what I want, moving me farther away from where I want to go, or compromising the values that are important to me, who I want to be, and how I want to show up in this world?

This simple rubric provides us with the opportunity to get really clear in our decision making, really honest with our motives, and identify some limiting beliefs that have held us down, held us back, and caused us to settle for less than in our lives. 

C. Developing An Intentional Direction for Our Lives 

This leads us to the last part of cultivating the Way, developing an intentional direction for our lives.  The clearer our vision of and openness to the opportunities, potentials, and possibilities that are out there waiting for us, the more empowered we become in making constructive choices at the ever-unfolding crossroads of our lives, the more we can begin to develop a consistent and intentional direction for our lives.  

It has been said: “Decision determines direction, direction determines destination, and destination determines destiny.”

We need to develop and repair our vision of ourselves, each other, and the world, so that we can consistently make constructive choices at the crossroads, and thereby become really intentional with the direction those decisions are taking us, which will ultimately determine our destinations and our destiny in life – and this is only half of the equation Sunzi offers us!

2. Maintaining Our Own Standards of Good Order and Self-Discipline

The second of Sunzi’s two exemplary abilities for governing our own victory and defeat is the ability to maintain our own standards of good order and self-discipline.

In order to win in war, we must have good order and discipline in the ranks.  That is why Sunzi lists it as one of his “Five Strategic Success Factors.”  Whichever military has better systems for managing, training, and promoting rule of law has a decided advantage against an undisciplined band of renegades, brigands, and mercenaries.

In our own lives, it is no different.  As creative entrepreneur and fashion designer Sally Miller put it: “Successful people create systems so that essential tasks always get done.”  We need personal standards, codes of conduct, and rules we live by.  We need daily routines and rituals, habits that allow us to maintain and sustain, replicate and reproduce our desired results as we work toward our “Big Deals.”

So, how do we get started?  Two principles: 

1. Write it down.  Because as Brian Tracy states: “Any system or blueprint for success is better than none at all.  Think on paper.”  Put it down on paper and deal with it there.  

2. Break it down.  Break it into manageable chunks.  I fall back on the KISS method: Keep it Simple Silly.  Because if it’s too complicated, we won’t be able to sustain it or maintain it.  This brings us full-circle back to Sunzi’s second exemplary ability – maintaining our own standards and systems for our lives.  Success is found in the simplicity of our systems.  

So, let’s ask ourselves: What works for me?  What has helped me accomplish the great things I have achieved so far in my own life?  If you don’t know or feel like you haven’t accomplished anything yet, figure out who else has accomplished what you want to achieve or who has done something similar and learn from them!

As we embrace these principles, we don’t merely walk the path of victory; we become a pathfinder, a trailblazer on the path itself. We don’t just achieve our dreams; we embody and emulate a model for others to follow in their own pursuit. In the spirit of Sunzi, we become the masters of our fate and the captains of our souls.

Previous Episodes referenced in this Episode:

Victory and Defeat, Rivers and Waterways, The Dao or Way, and Etymology of fa 法: Episode 3 “Sunzi’s Five Strategic Success Factors”

Envisioning A Victory that Surpasses the Norm: Episode 31 “Defining Our Own Greatest Victories”

Atrophy of Indecision and the Entropy of Failing: Episode 10 “Sunzi’s Five Full Send Commitment Tactics for When We Hit the Wall”

Les Brown “Life is a fight for territory and once you stop fighting for what you want, what you don’t want will automatically take over”: Episode 1 “What’s Your Big Deal? What Are You Fighting For?”

Upholding the laws of good order and discipline: Episode 12 “Warrior Mindset with Brigadier General Paul Pirog”

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.