The Dao of The Strategist: Playing the Fishing Game

Each body of water has its risk and its rewards. The good fisherman usually possesses the skill and the gear to match the challenge for that body of water.

He assessed that body of water based on the configuration of the terrain, the current and future settings of that specific terrain and what are his available contingencies.

Jiang Tai Gong

The great Jiang Tai Gong (the author of The Six Secret Teachings) was a sage-strategist (and a fisherman) who advised King Wu on the overthrow of the Shang dynasty (of ancient China), in order to create the Zhou dynasty. (This dynasty lasted over 700+ years.)

Jiang Tai Gong believed in the following five concepts:

1. Understanding the big picture;
2. Targeting the best opportunity within the big picture;
3. Establishing a position of strategic influence;
4. Creating the bait that enables the big fish to come willingly; and
5. Waiting patiently until the circumstances ripen.

Before implementing your strategic intent, ask yourself these questions?

• Is your plan based on the proper assessment of your competitive arena?
• Is your plan focused on the right target?
• Is the initial stage of your plan based on establishing a strategic advantage?
• Do you provide a strategic value that entices the customers to come to you?
  
• Does your plan enables your team to operate and compete as a team?
• Do you have the advantage that allows you to waiting patiently until the circumstances ripen?
• Does your plan includes the circumstances that enabled you to maximize your opportunities while mitigating risks?

If you cannot answer the above questions, you might need our Compass360 Consulting strategic consulting services.

To properly succeed, one's grand strategic plan must have technical specifics to do the following:

• maximizing profits;
• minimizing costs;
• mitigating risks;
• accelerating the delivery of the intent; and
• ensuring quality

Does your plan have those technical points?

"One who excels at warfare, seeks victory through the strategic configuration of power, not from reliance on men. Thus he is able to select men and employ strategic power."
- Sunzi’s view on Strategic Power (Sawyer's translation)

When a Compass team builds and connects with their plan (the Tangible Vision), they see the critical path that leads to the completion of the goal by collaboratively configure a strategic influence that allows them to complete their goal effectively.

Does your project team do that?

Conclusion

... In retrospect, the experienced strategist (the Compass Strategic Implementer) knows that fishing is more than the act of baiting a hook and dropping it in the water. He or she knows that the key to success is having a plan the creates the strategic positioning and resources to bait and lure.

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