The Answer (2)

More Specifics to The Answer

What is the Way of Aggressive Competition?
"The offensive disposition of any relevant competitor should change in accord with the movements of their opposition. And changes coming from the confrontation between the two parties. Unorthodox and orthodox tactics are produced from inexhaustible resources of the mind. Thus the greatest affairs are not discussed, and the employment of manpower is not spoken about. Moreover, words which discuss ultimate affairs are not not to be discussed openly. The employment of manpower is not so definitive as to be visible. They go suddenly, they come suddenly. Only when someone who can exercise sole control over the team, without being governed by other men, is a strategic weapon."

"If your plans are heard about, the competition will implement counter strategies. If you are perceived, they will plot against you. If your objectives are known, they will put you in difficulty. If you are fathomed, they will endanger you."

"Thus one who excels in competition has already won before the deployment of manpower. One who excels at eliminating the misfortunes of the people manages them before they appear. Conquering the competition, being victorious by being formless. The superior competitor has won before engaging in contest. Thus one who fights and attains victory in using extreme measures is not a good strategist. One who makes preparation after the contest is started, has been lost is not a superior sage. One whose skill is the same as the masses is not a superior artisan."

"In unique competitive matters, nothing is more important than certain victory. In employing one's manpower, nothing is more important than obscurity and silence. In movement, nothing is more important than the unexpected. In planning, nothing is more important than not being knowable. To be the first to gain victory, initially display some weakness to the enemy and only afterward do battle. Then your effort will be half, but the achievement will be doubled."

"The Sage observes signs from the movements of Heaven and Earth and knows its principles. He observes the movement of the sun and the moon and understand their seasonal activity. He follows the cycles of day and night, taken them as his constant. All things have life and death in accord with the principles 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."

# The following paragraph delineates the reasoning behind the "half step ahead of the competition" approach

"One who excels at competition 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 not vacillate. Of the many harms that can beset an organization, indecision is the greatest. Of disasters that can befall an organization, none surpasses doubt."

"One who excels in competition will not lose an advantage when he perceives it or be doubtful when he meets the opportunity. One who loses an advantage or lags behind the time for action will, on the contrary, suffer from disaster. Thus the wise follow the time and do not lose an advantage; the skillful are decisive and have no doubts. He strikes like a sudden clap of thunder, which does not give time to cover ears; strike like a flash of lightning, which does not give time to close the eyes. Advance as is suddenly startled; employ your team as if deranged. Those who oppose you will be destroyed; those who come near will perish. Who can defend against such an attack?"

"Now when matters are not discussed and general preserves their secrecy, he is superior. When things are not manifest but he discerns them, he is wise. Thus if superior and wise, no enemies will act against him in the field, nor will any state stand against him."  
- Tai Gong  ( Paraphrased from The Six Secret Teachings, 26)

The Question of the Day
Why is Jiang Tai Gong's Six Secret Teachings important to the hardcore strategists?

The Answer (partial)

" ... Although the Art of War remains the only book known in the West, the Wu-tzu and Six Secret Teachings proved to be highly important sources for military wisdom over the centuries, and the latter continues to be held in higher esteem among contemporary PRC military professionals. .."  -  Ralph Sawyer

If the PRC military professionals are reading it, why are you not reading it?

The strategists who understand this book (and the seven other classics), know what dots to connect and how to connect them.  

Extreme Competitiveness in the Global Economy

In our efficient economy, competitive strategizing does not begin by managing numbers through a spreadsheet. ... Static or semi-active defense through cyber tactics doesn't mean that it is a do-able solution.

It is a matter of time where a few corporations will be caught, using the extreme means of cyber penetration.   In 1990's, there were rumors of this type of ruthlessness.  So, what are the odds that this competitive approach will be incrementally used in our global economy?

The Answer (1)

Q: So, do you know what specifics constitute one competitor to be one or two moves ahead or behind their competition?

A: The answer is in the Sunzi's  Art of War
" ... If I know my team can attack, but do not know the competition cannot be attacked, it is only halfway to victory. If I know the competition can be attacked, but do not realize our team cannot attack, it is only halfway to victory. Knowing that the competition can be attacked, and knowing that our army can attack, but not knowing the terrain is not suitable for combat, is only halfway to victory. Thus one who truly knows the army will never be deluded when he moves, never be impoverished when initiating an action.

Thus it is said if you know them and know yourself, your victory will not be imperiled. If you know Heaven and Earth, your victory can be complete. ... " 

- Paraphrased from Sun Tzu's Art of War 10 (Sawyer's translation)

This is one's approach for staying one to two steps ahead of the competition. 

Compass Rule

If you are able to anticipate two steps ahead of your customers and/or your competition, implement a move that offers a half step advantage.

New Question:

Why would any successful strategist make a strategic move that offers the advantage of being an half step ahead?  

Ask your local Art of War (AoW) strategy expert if he or she knows the answer.  If you look at your copy of the Seven Strategy Classics and the other arcane classics, you might get the right answer. 

The Question of the Day

Before contemplating on the next strategic move, the successful strategist always asks himself, "Am I one or two move ahead or behind my competition?"

Q: Do you know what strategic principle would allow a competitor to be one or two moves ahead or behind their competition?

More Tools for the Mobile Strategist

Some of us have used Evernote to collect various dots of notes since 2008.  As a note-collection organizer, this program is technically superior to the practice of dumping everything into a MS Word document or a text file.

The learning curve is less than five minutes.   It is available for Win, Macs and other mobile devices.  

Free e-book
Click here for a free user e-book (5.9 MB). It is available as a pdf format, iPAD, nook, etc. Use the password makeuseof. 

Side Note  

Compass360 Consulting Group was not compensated  for endorsing this tool.

#

Competing in the Information Economy: The Role of #3

#3

"I am #3.  I don't try hard at all. ..."  - The Nameless Strategist

In the information economy, the seat holders of the #1 and #2 position are always in flux. Both of them are always stressed.  The number three seat holder  is just focused on achieving quality while maintaining an above average lifestyle.

The Compass View 
Every personality is different. In terms of achieving professional status,  there is no absolute rule for everyone. However, we believed that it is better to compete with diligent and intensity instead of regretting it. 

The goal of number three is to becomes the ultra class expert who can quietly advise while performing like the number one seat holder.    ...  There is no long-term future for those who are too caught on the action of the game.  

What is the exception to this rule?  Do you know what it is?

The Dao of Strategic Assessment

This is what happens when you have amateurs who practiced the "one input = one output" type of analysis

Good strategic analysis is about understanding the specifics behind the inputs.  ... The scary part is that there are some senior executives and  some senior project managers who do not believe in detailed-based situational analysis.  ... By practice,  their main concern is the result, not on situations and specifics.

Be aware of the aim of your strategic assessment approach. You must also ensure that your data is sound and solid.