Profiting in the Competitive Economy by Utilizing The Secret Behind Sunzi's Art of War Principles

 

(updated on 11.01.13, at 1118 hr)

The key to successfully defeating any competitor with minimum damage is knowing how to thaw their plans. Collecting information is the first step.

The Art of War readers (aka. The Cult of the Art of War) usually like to talk about the content from Chapter Four (Strategic Disposition) Chapter Five (Strategic Power) and Chapter 6 (Weak Points and Strong Points) of the Art of War essay. This is due to their inclination to act on instinct.  Their belief is that they can plan their way to win regardless what the odds are. This approach only works if the competition is weak and that the risk consequence of failing is not lethal.

However, the real secret is knowing how to specifically assess one's competition in the context of the 13 Chapters.  ... You do know how to do that. Do you? 


The Solution: The Sunzi's Strategic Approach 
To fulfill the mentioned goal, one must know how to properly gather relevant intelligence without being noticed and the approach for assessing it promptly.

The successful strategists only plan when he/she knows their goals and the configuration of their strategic foundation.

The successful strategists only know whether their goal is possible when he/she understands the configuration of their terrain and their situation

The successful strategists understand the configuration of their terrain when he/she knows what are the influences that affects it.  

The successful strategists understand the way of the influences when he/she knows the matrix of connectivity.

Those mentioned steps are all do-able when one knows the approaches for collecting those specific intelligence and assessing it promptly.

The Basics of the Compass Process Model
When you are able to complete the first step, you are one step closer to becoming two steps ahead of the competition. Click here and here for more information on the "two steps ahead" strategic approach.

Comments From the Compass Desk
Those with an interest in the historical practice of spycraft might find Dr. Ralph Sawyer's discussion with Dr. Mark Stout, Historian at the International Spy Museum, of some great interest. It has recently become freely available as a "spycast" at www.spymuseum.org/spycast, date of August 5th. (Time constraints precluded pursuing the numerous contemporary implications but Qin's historical employment of subversion to conquer the realm is discussed in Sawyer's classic Tao of Spycraft.) 

Click here for more information. 

Reading Chapter 13 of the Art of War could only go so far.  The ultra class professionals usually read this classic whenever they need a new idea.

We highly recommend to our serious strategic readers to listen to the Sawyer's discussion before  to focus their time and their effort on reading  Dr. Sawyer's The Tao of Spycraft. They will learn the true essence behind the origin of a non-stopping strategic exploitation.

The reading is quite dry. However, many of our associates of all sorts also highly recommended this book.  If you want to profit in our "extremely" competitive economy, focus on securing the path of least resistance by centering yourself first.  Then, proceed toward reading this classic book.

///

The Importance of Intelligence Assessment

Here is an interesting AP news item on how the U.S. intelligence agency found Osama bin Laden.

There is a rule of thumb about "acting on a specific intelligence item." If it is about 80%+ completed in terms of relevancy, most people would usually run with it. ... No intelligence stays static for a long period of time. ... Depending on the setting, the rate of change becomes a pertinent factor. ... Generally, most people do not spend any time estimating the risk/reward for using a certain type of intelligence. ... They go with their gut instinct.

Compass Process:

Identify the order of intelligence. Determine its sequence. Examine its timing points. Analyze the quality of data with various "what-if" situations. In most cases, the chief decision maker will have a better idea whether he/she is one step closer to hitting their target.

Compass Rule:

With the right intelligence and the proper assessment process , one can promptly find the order within the abyss of disorder.

Tuesday Morning Quarterbacking

Without dwelling into the game stats, lets focus on one of the main causes behind the Colts loss. Manning's habit of doing certain things repeatedly,was one of the reasons why the Colts were defeated.

In most professional sports, the tendencies of every star player are usually known after a year or so..

#

"What is called 'foreknowledge' cannot be elicited from spirits, nor from gods, nor by analogy with past events, nor from calculations. It must be obtained from men who know the enemy situation."

- Art of War 13

#
Monday, February 8, 2010 (SF Chronicle)

COLTS/Defining drive fails to break Manning's way

David White, Chronicle Staff Writer

(02-08) 04:00 PST Miami Gardens, Fla. --

Colts quarterback Peyton Manning looked all-time greatness in the eyes. He should have known better than to stare down a target in the open field like that.

Manning reached for a second Lombardi Trophy, which was so right there to hug between the numbers - but the Saints stepped between the arranged marriage and objected with all their might.

All Manning could do was stand there, jilted and helpless, as Saints cornerback Tracy Porter returned the worst decision of Manning's career 74yards for a dynasty-stopping touchdown. The Colts lost 31-17, and Super Bowl XLIV will be remembered as the game Manning threw away.

"He made a good break on the ball and just made a heck of a play," Manning said on the losers' side of Sun Life Stadium.

Sure, Porter made a great play, but come on: We're talking about Tracy Porter. Who Dat? Precisely.

Since when did a no-name from New Orleans have any business out-shining Manning on football's most Super stage?

Manning is the one who is supposed to play the hero. He's the unquestioned leader of the winningest team this century. He's the golden arm with all the MVP awards on the wall.

Manning is the star with 43 game-winning drives in the fourth quarter or overtime in his esteemed NFL lifetime. Sunday was supposed to be No. XLIV(that's 44, for those who don't speak Roman).

"It's certainly disappointing," Manning said of his interception. "Very disappointed."

He should be. Everyone else on offense did all he could to put Manning in his customary position to save the day.

The offensive line did not give up a sack, no matter how often Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams dialed blitz. Tight end Dallas Clark ran down every- thing Manning threw his way, catching seven passes for 86 yards to become the most prolific tight end in postseason history.

Running back Joseph Addai rushed 13 times for 77 yards. His spinning 4-yard touchdown run gave the Colts a 17-13 lead in the third quarter. Not bad, for the 32nd-ranked rushing offense in a 32-team pool.

Addai threw in 58 screen-pass reception yards. Rookie receivers Austin Collie and Pierre Garcon each tossed 66 receiving yards into the hat and passed it to Manning.

Everyone led Manning's horseshoe to the water, but he's the one who had to take a swig from the grail.

Instead, Manning passed the cup right into Porter's hands. It was 3rd-and-5 at the Saints' 31. Manning was one touchdown throw away from making this a 24-24 game, and he had more than three minutes of game clock left.

Here's the real indictment of it all: Manning is reputed as the Study Hall King. No one studies more video than Manning, the legend goes. He takes the knowledge of other team's tendencies and uses it to his advantage. Repeatedly.

Well, guess what: The Saints just beat Manning at his own mind game. Porter and the Saints, too, crammed for the Super Bowl. They knew the Colts liked to stack the receivers on 3rd-and-short. Porter knew Colts receiver Reggie Wayne would release outside on a slant, and that Manning would throw to him.

Imagine that.

"It's kind of a play we've run a lot," Manning said.

/// The Compass View: If you are scouting for your competitor's tendencies, then there is a good possibility that they are also scouting for yours.

Now look at Manning. His 333 passing yards? Minimized. The 10-0 lead he forged in the first quarter? Kissed away. While Saints quarterback Drew Brees was winning the Super Bowl MVP, Manning was going 13 game minutes between complete passes in the second and third quarters.

/// ***

The Compass View: No matter how great an competitor is, he or she is predictable. By using our Assess, Position and Influence (API) process, anyone can be defeated.

Assess him/her in terms of the AoW principles. The initial step is to gather intelligence on the target.

Position him and yourself with a good plan and solid preparation.

Influence the competition toward a limited number of situations that prevents him to implement his or her strengths. Concentrate on reducing their opportunity of gaining advantages to zero. Do not let him/her gain any momentum.

Focus point #1: Nullify the advantage by zeroing out the probable momentum.

Focus point #2: When one concentrates too much on their strengths, the tendencies become obvious to the "strategic smart" opposition. It is important to change one's operational habits occasionally.

*** ///

So what if Manning joined Montana and Brett Favre as the only postseason passers with 5,000 yards? With only one Super Bowl ring, the Colts are getting pretty lousy mileage out of all those stats.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Copyright 2010 SF Chronicle

----------------------------------------------------------------------

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2010/02/08/SP051BU4L8.DTL

---------------------------------------------------------------------
# # #