The Enemy’s Strategy
What is of supreme importance in war
is to attack the enemy’s strategy.
Sun Tzu
Whether you are referring to war or business, if you want to win, you need to be able to counter your enemy’s strategy. You first need to know exactly what your enemy’s strategy is, in order to attack his strategy. Don’t just shoot in the dark. You need factual knowledge concerning what he plans to do. Take the time to do a little research and find out who your enemy is and what makes him tick. You must know your enemy. Know his weaknesses and his strengths. Know what his goals are and what he wants to achieve and why. Gather as much information on him as possible.
Method is more important than strength,
when you wish to control your enemies.
Nagarjuna
Once you know your enemy well, you are ready to start thinking of ways to disrupt his strategy. Only after you understand your enemy, can you begin to devise a plan to attack his strategy. Attacking your enemy’s strategy without doing your homework can backfire on you. You must be able to understand what is going on in your enemy’s mind in order to plan your own strategy. You must know who he is and how he thinks in order to predict how he will react and what his next move will be.
Our friends show us what we can do,
our enemies teach us what we must do.
Goethe
Things are not always as they appear to be on the surface. In fact, they are seldom what they appear to be. You must work hard to get through all the layers and find out what your enemy’s true purpose is. Don’t just discover his strategy, but look deeper and find out why he has developed this strategy. What is his ultimate motivation? What is his ultimate objective? Once you know what his motivation is and what his objectives are, you ready to develop a plan to counter your enemy’s strategy. Knowledge is power.
Do not be the victim of first impressions.
Baltasar Gracian
In planning, never a useless move;
in strategy, no step taken in vain.
Sun Tzu
(Taken from Warrior Wisdom II: The Heart and Soul of Bushido)
Bohdi
Warrior Wisdom
