孫 子 曰 : 兵 者 , 國 之 大 事 , 死 生 之 地 , 存 亡 之 道, 不 可 不 察 也 。
故 經 之 以 五 事 , 校 之 以 計 , 而 索 其 情 , 一 曰 道 ,二 曰 天 , 三 曰 地 , 四 曰 將 , 五 曰 法 。
道 者 , 令 民 與 上 同 意 , 可 與 之 死 , 可 與 之 生 , 而 不 畏 危 也 。 天 者, 陰 陽 , 寒 暑 , 時 制 也 。 地 者 , 遠 近 , 險 易 , 廣 狹 ,死 生 也 。 將 者 ,智 , 信 , 仁 , 勇 , 嚴 也 。 法 者 , 曲 制 , 官 道 , 主 用 也。 凡 此 五 者 , 將 莫 不 聞 , 知 之 者 勝 , 不 知 者 不 勝 。
道 者 , 令 民 與 上 同 意 , 可 與 之 死 , 可 與 之 生 , 而 不 畏 危 也 。 天 者, 陰 陽 , 寒 暑 , 時 制 也 。 地 者 , 遠 近 , 險 易 , 廣 狹 ,死 生 也 。 將 者 ,智 , 信 , 仁 , 勇 , 嚴 也 。 法 者 , 曲 制 , 官 道 , 主 用 也。 凡 此 五 者 , 將 莫 不 聞 , 知 之 者 勝 , 不 知 者 不 勝 。
故 校 之 以 計 , 而 索 其 情 。 曰 : 主 孰 有 道 , 將 孰 有 能 , 天 地 孰 得 ,法 令 孰 行 , 兵 眾 孰 強 , 士 卒 孰 練 , 賞 罰 孰 明 , 吾 以 此 知 勝 負 矣 。 將 聽 吾 計 , 用 之 必 勝 , 留 之 ; 將 不 聽 吾 計 , 用 之 必 敗 , 去 之 。
計 利 以 聽 , 乃 為 之 勢 , 以 佐 其 外 ; 勢 者 , 因 利 而 制 權 也 。
兵 者 , 詭 道 也 。 故 能 而 示 之 不 能 , 用 而 示 之 不 用, 近 而 示 之 遠 ,遠 而 示 之 近 。 利 而 誘 之 , 亂 而 取 之 , 實 而 備 之 , 強 而 避 之 , 怒 而 撓 之, 卑 而 驕 之 , 佚 而 勞 之 , 親 而 離 之 。 攻 其 無 備 , 出 其 不 意 , 此 兵 家 之勝 , 不 可 先 傳 也 。
夫 未 戰 而 廟 算 勝 者 , 得 算 多 也 ; 未 戰 而 廟 算 不 勝 者 , 得 算 少 也 ;多 算 勝 , 少 算 不 勝 , 而 況 於 無 算 乎 ? 吾 以 此 觀 之 , 勝負 見 矣 。 Some translation suggested:
"Now the general who wins a battle makes many calculations in his temple ere the battle is fought."
"The general who loses a battle makes but few calculations beforehand. Thus do many calculations lead to victory, and few calculations to defeat: How much more no calculation at all!"
"It is by attention to this point that I can foresee who is likely to win or lose."
SunTzu put this as the last statement. This is the most important statement which I concur totally.
In business terms: On the average, I spent at least 8 hours a day discussing with my business partner on the strategic direction of the business. It was through these discussions that new strategic directions were found and executed.
Sometimes, we found our daily routines did affect our discussions. We would then take long trips into the countryside, away from the madding crowd. Amazingly, these long trips gave us one of the best enlightenments in our business direction. Without fail, we always find strong and new action plans. The plans were beautiful and well-conceived.
The amount of time we took to discuss did affect our daily work. But, the sacrifice was well worth it. The daily tasks might take a longer time to complete, but due to correct long term strategic direction, this was our shortest path to success.
Another important aspect of this statement is council. If there is no council, then the business will not work. It is through council that I can find peace. Peace in business is very important as it portraits calmness, strength and resilience.
Many times, I was questioned as why can't a business be absolutely run by a single and strong proprietor? Whenever a business hits a road block, the proprietor needs council and a good listening ear. This sole proprietor will turn to his closed friends to seek solace. Initially these friends will respond, but not for long. These friends' directions are not aligned with that of the sole proprietor's. If the business does well because of the friends' council, the proprietor wouldn't bother to share his spoils with his friends as these friends owned no part of the business; at most he just provides a meal or two. In the longer term, these friends due to their own commitment or constraint or might even feel used, will stop to provide council. The goodwill of these friends has been exhausted fully by the sole proprietor. He will then be shunt by all his closed friends and relations.
Therefore, it is a requirement to have a business partner to participate and share in the business venture. It doesn't need to have many, just ONE.
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