Special Announcement
I am pleased to announce the launch of the first Art of War for Life publication! Just in time for the holiday season! I have partnered with Amazon to bring you “Planning to Win! A Guided Journal From Where You Are to Where You Want to Be in Life!” Drawing on fifty-two timeless truths from the first chapter of Sunzi’s Art of War, “Preliminary Planning,” this transformative guided journal presents leadership lessons, motivational mindsets, empowering principles, success strategies, and transformational tactics to empower you with tools and insights to recover what you’ve lost on your journey through life, uncover what still lies buried deep within you, and discover your destiny as a powerful being with a profound purpose on this planet. With inspirational quotes, inspiring affirmations, and thought provoking prompts, this guided journal will help you get in touch with the voice of your own inner wisdom and personal solutions that will lead you boldly and bravely to the life of your dreams. Available now!
Introduction
In chapter 5.2 of Sunzi’s Art of War we read:
凡戰者, 以正合, 以奇勝。故善出奇者, 無窮如天地, 不竭如江河, 終而復始, 日月是也; 死而復生, 四時是也。聲不過五, 五聲之變, 不可勝聽也。色不過五, 五色之變, 不可勝觀也。味不過五, 五味之變, 不可勝嘗也。戰勢不過奇正, 奇正之變, 不可勝窮也。奇正相生, 如循環之無端, 孰能窮之哉！
In general, one engages with standard tactics but is victorious with special tactics. Therefore, those who excel at coming up with unorthodox tactics, are as inexhaustible as heaven and earth, as limitless as the Yangze and Yellow Rivers – the sun and the moon are [like] this, having come to an end, they are reborn again; the Four Seasons are like this, having passed on they are reborn.
There are but Five Sounds, yet the variations on the Five Sounds cannot all be successfully heard. There are but Five Colors, yet the variations of the Five Colors cannot all be successfully observed. There are but Five Flavors, yet the variations in the Five flavors cannot all be successfully tasted.
In warfare, dominating power is nothing more than special and orthodox tactics – yet the variations between special and orthodox tactics are inexhaustible. Special and orthodox tactics mutually produce each other, in a never-ending cycle. Who can exhaust them?
From this passage I have identified four strategic insights for winning innovation. They are:
1. The Interplay of Best Practices and Innovation Creates Victory.
2. Sunzi’s Three Sources of Innovative Inspiration: See it, Hear it, Taste it
3. Three Approaches to Successful Innovation: Re-Combine, Re-Configure, Re-Create.
4. Domination (self-empowerment) is nothing but vision, execution, and innovation
1. The Interplay of Best Practices and Innovation Creates Victory
The first of Sunzi’s four strategic insights for winning innovation is that the interplay of best practices and innovation creates victory. Sunzi states that we engage, we join the battle with established protocols, standard and orthodox tactics, best practices but that we win with innovation. When done right, best practices and innovation are mutually dependent, co-producing, and interconnected.
2. Sunzi’s Three Sources of Innovative Inspiration: See it, Hear it, Taste it!
The second of Sunzi’s four strategic insights for winning innovation is to see it, hear it, and taste it! These are Sunzi’s three sources of innovative inspiration. Vision guides decision, decision determines direction, direction leads to destination, and destination creates destiny.
3. Three Approaches to Successful Innovation: Re-Combine, Re-Configure, Re-Create
The third of Sunzi’s four strategic insights for winning innovation is to recombine, reconfigure, and recreate.
Re-combine: The first approach is to take things we already have or already do and combine them together in new ways.
Re-Configure: The second approach is to take things we already have or do and use them in new contexts or areas. Apply principles, lessons, and insights from one area of our lives to another.
Re-Create: The third approach is to create something new or re-create something old. This is a total redesign! A complete reimagining of a product, service, or approach.
4. Tactical Advantage or Domination (self-empowerment) is nothing but vision, innovation, and execution
A lot of times, the answer to our problems is NOT just to work harder, work longer hours, or do more of the same, but to find a transformational tactic that can tip the scales and shift the balance of power in our favor, thereby increasing our chances for success. There are tactical advantages that allow us to harness a strength greater than our own, to increase our potential and efficiency, waiting to be discovered in every area of our lives.
The last idea I want to share with you today is the acronym VIE, V-I-E, which stands for Vision, Innovation, and Execution. As we VIE for what we want in our lives, out of our lives, and for our lives, we start with a clear vision, then we innovate, and then we execute – we make it a reality, we get better at it! That’s all there is to it!
Previous Episodes referenced in this Episode:
Modeling the success of others: Episode 33: “Two Abilities for Governing Victory and Defeat”
Best Practices: Episode 36: “Sunzi’s Octagonal Approach to Overcoming Overwhelm”
Thomas Edison and the Light Bulb: Episode 2: “Look in the MIRROR! You are in Charge!”
Vision guides decision: Episode 3: “Sunzi’s Five Strategic Success Factors”
Visualizing the value of victory: Episode 10: “Sunzi’s Five Full Send Commitment Tactics for When We Hit the Wall!”
Tactical Advantages: Episode 5: “Four Keys to Tip the Scales of Life & Shift the Balance of Power in Our Favor”
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 