Observing the Big Tangible Picture (BTP) From the Top View (A Perspective From Hui Shi) 2 of 2

(updated at 07.28.17, 1:11 am)

Following is a brief analysis of Hui Shi's guidelines for viewing the configuration of the Big Tangible Picture (aka. The 10 Theories. or the 10 Paradoxes):

"The largest thing has nothing beyond it; it is called the "One of Largeness." The smallest thing has nothing within it; it is called the "One of Smallness."

The largest object is always attached to the Big Tangible Picture because of its influential effect while the smallest object possessed no centrality. Its internal state is increased when it is attached to a similar object.

"That which has no thickness cannot be piled up; yet it is a thousand li in dimension." 
A well-configured object has no capability but has the prowess to expand because of its unique framework.

/// Note: Beside measuring the size of an object. the perceptive strategist immediately examines its connectivity and its centrality (in reference to time and space).  

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"Heaven is as low as earth; mountains and marshes are on the same level." 
Whenever the cycle of the external factors is completely affecting the entirety of a strategic situation (the Big Tangible Picture), the time factor become relevant.  Simultaneously,  the strategic effect of each categorical terrain's obstacles could become quite pertinent..

"The sun at noon is the sun setting. The thing born is the thing dying."

There is a seasonal cycle, a rhythm and a flow in everything while there is a cause and an effect in the macro realm.  (Identify the strategic inflection point where a dichotomy occurs.) 

"Great similarities are different from little similarities; these are called the little similarities and differences. The ten thousand things are all similar and are all different; these are called the great similarities and differences."

Based on the configuration of the current situation, the perceptive strategist identifies the similar conditions and the different conditions of the different objects. Both the similarities and the dissimilarities  define the tangible configuration of the situation.

"The southern region has no limit and yet has a limit."  
Regardless of the projected capability of an relevant object,  this object has a finite coverage.

"I set off for Yueh today and came there yesterday."  
The grand time standard of a terrain-based situation occasionally changes the circumstances behind the the perceptive strategist's objective


Humorous translation: By recognizing that the true north of one's strategic situation and arriving at its "destination” (with minimal to zero damage), one could only then repeat that same ambition. 

"Linked rings can be separated." 
Through the identification of the connective sequence of the components that existed within the macro sequence of a system, the perceptive strategist immediately generates a new strategic  perspective.

"I know the center of the world: it is north of Yen and south of Yueh." 
Through the identification of the central point of an object or a situation, the perceptive strategist immediately pinpoints its prowess.

 "Let love embrace the ten thousand things; Heaven and earth are a single body." 

By pinpointing the singular conditional factor that synchronizes all of the objects (the focal catalyst/ the most common denominators), one identifies the possible matrix of connectivity for that strategic situation.

 

Comments From The Compass Desk

To improve or to enhance the actual output of an object (i.e., an event, an entity, a product, a service, etc.), one must first recognize the internal connectivity that operates within the targeted system

Pinpointing its system cycle, its contradictions, its unity points and the midpoint is the next macro step for establishing the possibility of creating a strategic difference.

Wishing Happy Birthday to Albert Einstein

Source: Wikipedia

Today is Albert Einstein birthday. He would have been 138.

So how does Albert Einstein fits into the Big Tangible Picture (BTP) of strategy? 

His "Big Picture Thinking" in the area of theoretical physics lead to the general theory of relativity, one of the two pillars of modern physics (alongside quantum mechanics).  It also lead to a Nobel Prize 

Interestingly, many of his ideas started with something small. It then  slowly evolve into something big by experimenting it in the many specific realms of life.  Like most great thinkers, Einstein was seeking that absolute  "game-changer" idea that could positively explain the ultra specifics of life that affect our lives.   

Connecting to a Similar Situation 
To create or innovate a new idea, one starts with a base idea and slowly evolve it by connecting it to another similar idea that operates in a similar terrain.

This approach is similar to how Tesla operated.

“My method is different. I do not rush into actual work. When I get a new idea, I start at once building it up in my imagination, and make improvements and operate the device in my mind. When I have gone so far as to embody everything in my invention, every possible improvement I can think of, and when I see no fault anywhere, I put into concrete form the final product of my brain.” - Tesla

You do think like that.  ... Do you?

Final Thoughts
Regardless of the realm, good strategy is about comprehending the connectivity of the tactical particulars within one's terrain and the results from it before building the strategic plan that leads to one's projected goal.

Staying Focused on the Big Picture While Being Mindful of One's Objectives

Another View on the Sunzi's Victory Temple Model vs. The Moscow Rules.

Source: Random

(updated) 

My associates and I are not in the intelligence business.  Nor do we play the role of intelligence gathering operators on a TV show. However, we just possess an "above average" comprehension of how to connect the exploitation of  strategic intelligence to the strategy game.

Review of the Moscow Rules
Moscow Rules are a set of guidelines used for chaotic situations.    ... Click here for more information

The Sunzi's Victory Temple Model
The Sunzi's Victory Temple model requires someone to be deliberately mindful of their terrain and beyond, the past events, the present moment and the projected future before concluding a decision.  This strategic intelligence-driven model/methodology operates on the premise of identifying the factors that leads to the development and the implementation of a strategic multiplier. 
  While Moscow rules are designed for those who cannot and/or would not spend some time, reading the circumstance while  enjoying the act of pulling a bunch of rules from their "deriair,"

Their frame of reference is quite finite and is usually based on incomplete information.

Certain surviving parties who have used it, succeeded  for various reasons. We assessed that their superior tactical acumen was not the main reason.  The incompetency and/or the un-mindfulness of their opposing counterparts are usually the primary origin of their success.

In the field game where a decision can mean life and death. It does not matter whether the below average decision maker got lucky with a bad decision or a good decision maker got screwed with a good decision and bad circumstances.  Completing the objective while surviving is the name of the game. 

Sooner or later, the decision maker will regress to their mean. 


The Two Questions of the Day
In a chaotic setting where you have the advantage of time, do you think with your basic instinct?  Or  do you strategize?

The Dao of Strategic Competition: Knowing the Questions

In business as in life, most people are lost in space.  They do not know what is their grand objective, where to pursue their objective, when to pursue their objective, etc. 

Somehow, they just get by.  ... They always think that there is another opportunity that is positioned behind the next corner.  ... Thinking about it and recognizing it are two different modes. 

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Following is an abridged listing of some other questions that people would ask:

• When does one creates the opportunity?
• When does one finds the opportunity?
• When does one waits for the opportunity?
• During a competitive conflict, when does the competitive strategist run a series of probing plays to understand the motive and methods of the competition?
• When does he stage and shape the competition before implementing the subverting play?
• Better yet, when does he pursue the positive momentum play?

The clue to answering those questions is to understand the Big Tangible Picture.  When the configuration of the Big Tangible Picture is recognized, the ideas begin to appear.

More to come.  ... 

Understanding the Big Tangible Picture (BTP)

(updated at 16:16 hrs)

“If you know the enemy and know yourself, your victory will not stand in doubt; if you know Heaven and know Earth, you may make your victory complete. …”   - Sunzi 10

Regardless of the lack of experience and insights from the field strategists, there are multiple meanings to this thought.

If you know the enemy and know yourself, your victory will not stand in doubt;

Knowing the competition and knowing yourself is not enough.   ...  You have know the reasons behind him or her in terms of motives, methods and strategic foundation.

It could look discouraging for those who realized that the competition possesses an abundance of resources.  By knowing the state of their motive and their methods, there is always an opportunity to subvert him if one knows the why's behind the motive and the methods..

if you know Heaven and know Earth, you may make your victory complete. …”

There are multiple meanings to this statement

The Basic Meaning

While terrain is about the characteristics of a strategic situation, the heaven is about the rate of cyclical change that supports the current strategic situation.

The Secondary Meaning

From a geographic perspective, the terrain factor is about topographic settings to a landscape while the heaven factor is about the external influences that are affecting the terrain.

Another Perspective

“Given a knowledge of three matters—the affairs of men, the seasons of heavens and the natural advantages of earth—victory will invariably crown your battles. “ – Li Ch’uan   

More to Come

Is the Value of Lego is Greater Than Gold ? (An Interesting Investment for the Long Term Thinkers)

According to an analysis by the UK Telegraph, the building-block toys are a better investment than gold or the stock market.

The FTSE 100 (an index of 100 companies on the London Stock Exchange -- similar to the S&P 500 on the New York Stock Exchange) has increased in value an average of 4.1 percent since February 2000, according to the Telegraph analysis. By comparison, Lego sets kept in perfect condition have increased in value 12 percent each year during the same period. If you invested in gold, you received a 9.6 percent annual increase in value, according to the Telegraph.

The secondary market for Lego sets, especially ones that are no longer in production, is the reason why Legos are better than gold. For instance, the value of the Cafe Corner Lego set, which originally sold for $139.99 in 2007, can fetch as much as $1,600 on sites such as BrickPicker.com, as long as the box is unopened. But where's the fun in that?

Source:  SF Gate

• Original Source: UK Telegraph

Side Notes 
Lego Mindstorms and Lego Mindstorms NXT are great learning tools for those who have kids who wanted to learn how to program robots.  This tool teaches the implementer how to think and visualize their objective and their tactical approach in a three-dimensional mode.

The Darwin Award Goes to Some of the Drug-induced Silicon Valley Techies

(updated on 11.29.2015)

Some of the Silicon Valley geniuses have believed that they can either be super problem solvers or become ultra-innovative through the intake of LSD. Interestingly others preferred the choice of Adderol.

Without ever understand the medium to long risk consequences of their decision, this unique group of geniuses could have a lifetime of bizarre behavior.  ...   Smoking an abyss of joints might relieve the anxiety, will not going to consistently enhance one's creativity.

Regardless of the pseudo moment of pleasure, the grand attribute of ambition, drive and focus will be quite seriously reduced.  Creativity will be minimized and unrepeatable. ... Frying the brain over a futile job is not a good decision.  ... Once the brain adapted to the effects of the drug, the drug becomes useless. Now the physical being of the user becomes addicted to the "feel" of the drug.

The Big Tangible Picture
Smart creativity occurs from one's own current comprehension of the configuration that operates within their goal and the Big Tangible Picture that connects to their goal.

Prediction or Guess-timation 
Those who enjoyed the act of projecting the possible outcome of their pre-executed decision,must be able to identify the strategic factors that could lead to success or failure.

Following is an abridged listing of the strategic measures that are significant to the chief decision makers who wanted to the validity of their choices:

• the tangibility of the projected benefits; 
• the actuality of the potential challenges; and 
• the reality of the possible drawbacks. 

This grand measure of strategic overview-ing usually enables the chief decision makers to understand the expected veracity that would originated from their decision.

As long as the positive after-effects of their choice are greater than the negative after-effects, the choice is valid. 

Suggested Solution 
Learn to center yourself and getting more sleep are quite beneficial.  Also, concentrate on learning how to view the configuration on one's Big Tangible Picture through the act of assessing, positioning and influencing.

Final Point

Regardless of the industries and the levels within it, there are always "drugged out" professionals.