Episode 38: Six Empowering Principles to Start Dominating In Life!

In chapter 5.3 of Sunzi’s Art of War we read:

激水之疾, 至于漂石者, 勢也。鷙鳥之擊, 至于毀折者, 節也。是故善戰者, 其勢險, 其節短, 勢如張弩, 節如機發。

“Dominating power is the urgent onrush of accumulated floodwaters, that can even carry stones along with it. Control is the strike of a bird of prey, that can even destroy and snap bones.  As such, the dominating power of those who excel at warfare is narrowly concentrated [on strategic and tactical advantages], their control is concise [precise in critical moments]; their power is as a taut crossbow, their control is as a trigger release.“

From this passage I have extracted six empowering principles to start dominating your life.  They are:

1. Invest in Yourself
2. Embrace A Sense of Urgency
3. Narrowly Focused & Concentrated Effort
4. Attack the Problem or Goal until you Breakthrough or Breakout
5. Precision Control in Critical Moments
6. Take Aim & Pull the Trigger

1. 激: Invest in Yourself

How do we invest in ourselves?  The same way we invest in anything else through time, energy, and money.  When was the last time you spent any time with yourself, just getting to know yourself? Self-care, education, skills development? Self-care is about maintenance. When we invest in ourselves, we increase our capacity to move in the direction of our full moon, our shining star, our grand endeavor, that beacon on the horizon, and to work with the tools we have to build the life we want to create.

2. 疾: A Sense of Urgency

As we start amassing and building up, investing in ourselves for a surge, we need to have a sense of urgency. Why do we need a sense of urgency in our lives?  Because the real problem for far too many of us is the disease of apathy or complacency.  We have settled and allowed ourselves to be lulled into a false sense of security.  We have buried our heads in the sand and are oblivious to our actual obstacles and problems and therefore cannot see the opportunities and possibilities that are on the other side of them

3. 險: Narrowly Focused & Concentrated Effort

Just as the steep canyon walls direct, focus, and concentrate the flow of water, creating a flashflood, so too do we want to be narrowly focused and concentrate all our time, energy, and resources into a singular goal!  We don’t want to be dividing our attention and spreading our resources about too thin or we won’t make as much progress as quickly.  That can lead to us trying to do too much or feeling like we need to do everything, everywhere, all at once

4. 擊: Attack the Problem or Goal until you Breakthrough or Breakout

In ancient China, chariot warfare was the norm, and the axles were barbed weapons unto themselves, slicing up, knocking down, and running over enemy infantry while the charioteer fought with various weapons.  This is very powerful and energetic image of combat, with horses galloping, wheels spinning, and weapons clashing!

This is the energy that Sunzi wants us to get in touch with as we set about attacking our problems and chasing after our dreams!  That is how we energize!  We focus, we concentrate all our firepower, all our will, all our might, all our heart, all our soul, and we pour it into our goal and we keep on fighting!  It doesn’t matter how many times, we stumble and fall, it doesn’t matter how many times we hit the wall!  It doesn’t matter if all we can do is get to our knees and crawl.  We keep at it!

5.  節: Precision Control in Critical Moments

That precise control does not need to be constant, only in the critical moments.  We don’t have to be “on” all of the time, but when it is go time, we need to make sure that we are dialed in! One exemplary image that Sunzi employs here is that of a bird of prey, a falcon, hawk, or eagle.  Sunzi notes that a single strike from a bird of prey can break bones and yet it is not their power that he focuses on but their control!  The speed and concentrated power that they unleash against their prey is harnessed by their precision and control at the critical moment of attack!

6. 發: Take Aim & Pull the Trigger

All that power and control is pointless if we don’t take our shot! So, take aim and fire!  If we miss, we adjust our aim and we fire another volley and we keep shooting until we hit our target – and if it is still standing, we keep on hitting it, and we hit it from different angles and different perspectives until we get the breakthrough we want and break out of the rut we are in!  We don’t quit!  We don’t give up or give in!  We don’t sell out or settle for less than!  We keep fighting!  We hold nothing back!

Previous Episodes Referenced in this Episode:

Investing in yourself: Episode 35: “Five Strategies for Creating a Massive Breakthrough”

Getting to know yourself: Episode 27: “Know Thyself & Understand Others: The Secret to Becoming Unbreakable?”

Enhancing your efficiency: Episode 2: “Look in the MIRROR!  You are in Charge!”

Level up your life: Episode 4:”Level Up Your Life! Sunzi’s Five Attributes of Great Leaders & How to Develop Them” and Episode 23:”Warrior Unscripted – Five Attributes to Level Up Your Life in Two Minutes!”

Procrastination: Episode 6: “Sunzi’s Six Traps of (Self-) Deception and How to Avoid Them.”

Don’t delay: Episode 10: “Sunzi’s Five Full Send Commitment Tactics for When We Hit the Wall.”

Trying to do too much: Episode 36: “Sunzi’s Octagonal Approach to Overcoming Overwhelm.” 

Tactical advantages: Episode 5: “Four Keys to Tip the Scales of Life and Shift the Balance of Power in Our Favor.”

Taking your shot: Episode 22: “Take Back Your Life!  Six Tactics to Pick Your Battles and Start Winning!”

Problems within us: Episode 13: “Three Secret Strategies for Overcoming Our (Inner) Enemies.”

The Battlefield of life:  Episode 29: “Sunzi’s Six Strategies for (Self-)Preservation and Total Victory in Life!”

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.