post 1 of 12 — inspired by “the art of war,” the sun tzu masterpiece from the 6th century bc. instead of the treatise’s original purpose (military strategy), the subject matter here has been adapted to inform business strategy. a note here first: some of the sensibilities may seem counter-intuitive to a western mind. they derive in eastern thought and, because of this, can take a bit of adjustment. the art of war has inspired many of the world’s great generals, ceos and coaches to success — regardless of the battlefield. i’m hoping it does the same for your business.
the topic for this post is “dark” strategy. no, i’m not talking about witchcraft. as sun tzu advised, “let your plans be dark and as impenetratable as night. when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.” in business, we all want to share the next big thing we’re about to do. that’s a natural inclination. the bad news? it’s also careless. the plans you’re about to execute could be leveraged by others. even when you think you have a trustworthy audience, you could be mistaken. even when you think you’re talking to someone who has no vested interest (nor the ability to leverage your concept), they could very easily have a family member, friend or colleague who could benefit from the knowledge. it’s just better to be safe than sorry. if you absolutely must share, then please get a non-disclosure agreement (nda) signed.
the other half of sun tzu’s advice here involves moving quickly once you commit. the slower and more indecisive you are, the more exposed you are to competitors. if you think that you’re the only one being moved to think a certain way, or that a certain idea is 100% original, then please think again. it is far safer to assume that others are “on this” and that you’re engaged in a race to penetrate the market. do not charge in wildly like the boxer who believes his opponent is stunned. we’re vulnerable where we’re overzealous. it’ll be the best combination of speed and measure that leads you to prevail.
