The Importance of Timing (The Attribute of Strategic Power)

The Essence of Strategic Power

Strategic Power is the outcome that originates from one's own comprehension and the execution of the following strategic attributes of surprise, momentum and timing. When someone has strategic power, he or she can time his action to the seasonal cycles of their competitive terrain and the competitors within it. (We will discuss this intricate process in one of our future books.)

"The Sage takes his signs from the movements of Heaven and Earth; who knows its principles. He accords with the Tao of yin and yang, serves the movement of the sun and the moon and follows their seasonal activity. He follows their cycles of fullness and emptiness day and night, taken them as his constant. All things have life and death in accord with the forms of Heaven and Earth. Thus it is said that if one fights before understanding the situation, even if he is more numerous, he will certainly be defeated. ...

One who excels at warfare will await events in the situation without making any movement. When he sees he can be victorious, he will arise; if he sees he cannot be victorious, he will desist. Thus it is said that he does not have any fear, he does desist. Thus, it is said that one fights before seeing the situation, even if he is not vacillate. Of the many harms that can beset an army, vacillation is the greatest. Of disasters that can befall an army, none surpasses doubt."

- Jiang Tai Gong (Dr. Sawyer's translation of the Six Secret Teachings)

Click here on the state of Steve Jobs.

More information on this story can be found at San Jose Mercury and The NY Times. Click here for Apple's latest stock price.

An associate sent us the following note, "Even in announcing his medical leave, Jobs was smart enough to make the announcement on a day when the market was closed, and the day before Apple would announce an increase of 78% in their earnings. ..."

Our View

Steve Jobs timed his actions with ease by assessing big tangible picture.  He comprehended the configuration of the market terrain in terms of the various levels and the various seasonal cycles.

Smart decision makers usually possess a strong understanding of the connections between the macro and micro timing cycles within their competitive terrain. This view of the big tangible picture usually reduces the "doubt" factor while enabling them to focus on the timing of their decision points. This understanding also enables one to create and drive events before the opposition is awake.

At this level of global competition, there is no such thing as coincidences. ... Get well, Steve! Your ideas and your products rock.

Click here for another example of strategic power.

To achieve strategic power, one must do the following:

• Assess the big tangible picture;
• Position themselves in a position of strategic power; and
• Influence the necessary components with strategic power.

Summary

When one has strategic power, he or she can prevail over the competition. ... Do you have the strategic power to prevail?