The six day Arab Jewish war is one of
the most spectacular wars of recent
history and Sun Tzu’s classic work,
The Art Of War, written in 500 BC
is still one of the most relevant works
on how war really works.
With the rise of capitalism a very
interesting dynamic emerged.
Competition became the order of the
day and just like at war only the best
survive. Capitalism meant that the
fact that something was owned by
someone else did not mean that you
could not have it. War had found its
way into business.
External wars of dealing with
competition and outsmarting
them became the order of the day.
Businesses were competing for each
other’s customers and fighting for the
hearts and minds of the people.
They were using intelligence and
spies to gather information about
what the competition was doing.
They were finding ways to get the
best staff from the competition to
cross over not only because they were
good workers but because they could
provide vital information about the
strategy of the competition.
Then there were the internal wars.
Plotting how to remove A and
replace with B, planning how to
mobilize people to support your idea
against the next persons, handling
betrayal, backstabbing and smear
campaigns against individuals by
supposed colleagues. War had truly
found its way into capitalism.
A mentor of mine who was a general
in the army once told me that for
business to succeed, the business
person must think like a soldier. He
said to me, ‘Wale in the business
world if your strategy does not work,
you will go back to the drawing
board. In war if it does not work you
go into a body bag as a corpse.’
The ability for the business person to
‘‘The ability for the business person to
think like a warrior is therefore nonnegotiable for that person who wants to
win. The truth is you don’t have to go
looking for war to get involved in. As long
as you are a dreamer who can make things
happen, war will be waged against you.
It will come psychologically, emotionally
and sometimes even physically’’
think like a warrior is therefore nonnegotiable for that person who wants
to win. The truth is you don’t have
to go looking for war to get involved
in. As long as you are a dreamer who
can make things happen, war will
be waged against you. It will come
psychologically, emotionally and
sometimes even physically.
him: “I have carefully perused your
13 chapters. May I submit your
theory of managing soldiers to a
slight test?” Sun Tzu replied: “You
may.” Ho Lu asked: “May the test
be applied to women?” The answer
was again in the affirmative, so
arrangements were made to bring
180 ladies out of the Palace.
The shark infested waters of the
business world are governed by a
simple principle – eat or be eaten.
This book will not only equip you for
seizing opportunities but will also
protect you from predators whose
success means your downfall.
Sun Tzu divided them into two
companies, and placed one of the
King’s favourite concubines at the
head of each. He then bade them
all take spears in their hands, and
addressed them thus: “I presume you
know the difference between front
and back, right hand and left hand?”
The girls replied: Yes.
Remember that there are people out
there for whom your loss is their
profit. As a former scout we lived
by the motto – Be prepared. Well,
I bet your hands are a tool that is
guaranteed to make you just that.
Welcome to the winners world.
Let us start with a study of the
introduction of the art according to
Sun Tzu.
Sun Tzu
Sun Tzu Wu was a native of the
Ch`i State. His ART OF WAR
brought him to the notice of Ho
Lu, [2] King of Wu. Ho Lu said to
Sun Tzu went on: “When I say
“Eyes front,” you must look straight
ahead. When I say “Left turn,” you
must face towards your left hand.
When I say “Right turn,” you must
face towards your right hand. When
I say “About turn,” you must face
right round towards your back.”
Again the girls assented. The words
of command having been thus
explained, he set up the halberds and
battle-axes in order to begin the drill.
Then, to the sound of drums, he gave
the order “Right turn,” but the girls