“Nothing is more difficult than the art of maneuvering for advantageous position” – Sun Tzu

How can an ancient Chinese general be considered a business guru twenty-five hundred years later? By having written a book on military strategy called The Art of War. Business people from all industries have considered this little book a classic for their own development. The book covers the intellectual side of war and lays out a strategy for “psyching out” the enemy. Many a business mogul believes that Sun Tzu’s teachings are an indispensable guide for everyday life. Countless quotations are pulled from The Art of War are used not only by business people but by sport coaches, leadership gurus, and military personnel.

“Maneuvering for advantageous position” refers to the strategy that before you march toward your business goals, you need to have a firm plan as well as the flexibility to change those plans as your needs arise. You won’t just land in the place to take advantage of a good business opportunity by accident. But with a good plan, you can create your own opportunities. And if things change in your favor, you can modify your plans for an easier journey.

With that in mind, consider this quote that many entrepreneurs hang on the wall: “According as circumstances are favorable, one should modify one’s plans.”

I will be following up with a post regarding the marketing classic: Positioning which is written by both Al Ries and Jack Trout. This is a great book about communication within a marketplace that may appear overcrowded. I’ve read it several times over the years and have recently picked it back up for a refresher.

Also, I would like to thank Ted Coine for his recent blog post titled: “Management is War? Make that “Was.”“ This post reminded me of the legacy Sun Tzu left behind for us and how we carry his wisdom along with us today. If you have a few minutes, I encourage you to check out Ted’s blog. His current focus is on 21st Century Business practices and emphasizes leaders to incorporate new change in order to increase, or at a minimum, maintain employee engagement.