A Conquering Group Is Needed

"Unhappy is the fate of one who tries to win his battles and succeed in his attacks without cultivating the spirit of enterprise, for the result is waste of time and general stagnation.  When a rare opportunity comes, do not hesitate, but swiftly accomplish tasks that are otherwise impossible."

Sun Tzu (544 BC - 496 BC)

Known best for his book The Art of War, Sun Tzu did not live long but has a long legacy.

Whether he was a real character in Chinese history, or his book can be attributed entirely to him or other family relations, it doesn't matter.  We regard the book attributed to him for what it is.

THIS IS A BOOK THAT HAS BEEN READ FOR CENTURIES BY PEOPLE OF ALL STRIPES AND OCCUPATIONS.

And business leaders and others involved in free enterprise would do well to read it too!

Why?

What is the competition of business if it is not strategy and tactics, offense or defense, attack or feint, and all the many other adjectives and verbs that can be applied to warfare?

Now, we would like to think that such business competition plays within certain legal parameters! 

But cannot the death of one or the other competitors not be the ultimate result, figuratively speaking of course?

But would Sun Tzu understand a war where two entities are struggling one with another and a third, more powerful entity, began directing traffic. 

What would Sun Tzu have to say if that third, more powerful entity, began laying down rules that favored one warring party over the other? 

Or if the more powerful entity began restricting when and how each warring party went about organizing itself, put together its resources, went about finding more resources, or could operate at all?

Or if the more powerful entity began taking resources from both warring parties?

I can't think of a time in war when such a thing happened.

But really, what would Sun Tzu have to say?  It could be that he would suggest that the two warring parties combine in the common effort of dismantling the outside, more powerful entity!

For if they do not, no matter the outcome of the war between the two parties, neither, in the end, will be able to survive as they had imagined.

These two warring parties would have to understand that the direction and thinking of the more powerful entity would have to change.  

And they would have to understand that their forces would need to combine.  

And they would have to understand that their goals would NEVER be realized, they would NEVER be able to cultivate a spirit of enterprise, and the result of their not combining would result in a waste of time and general stagnation.

Sun Tzu was a an understanding person.  He understood human nature.  He understood the thinking of leaders.  He understood competition, in war or otherwise.  And he understood how those who do not pay attention to his words, and do not combine forces when necessary, will indeed STAGNATE.

There is an entity out there that is becoming a more powerful entity with every law passed.  

I think we should combine forces and, in the spirit of Sun Tzu, take advantage of this rare opportunity to throw the bums out so we can accomplish tasks that are otherwise impossible.

Read the quote again!