Daily Advice 1.10.21
Jan. 10th, 2021 10:34 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
readoldthingsSun Tzu's 5th constant factor is Method and Disicipline:
As always, we have to remember that most of us aren't fighting a war or applying this guide to warfighting. Method and Discipline are, of course, critical to any undertaking. To consider a few examples:
If your goal is to get a job, then you will need to set aside time every day to research job opportunities, call companies, and send out resumes. You will do best-- I think most of us know this-- if you treat your job search as a job in itself, and show up to your computer at 8:00, dressed for work.
If your goal is attainment in any sort of art, or craft, or for that matter any sport or skill of any other kind, you will need to set aside time to practice every day. We talked about writing a few posts back. For some reason, writers or would-be writers would bend over backwards in order to find excuses not to write. You've heard of writer's block. Have you ever heard of baker's block, runner's block, boxer's block or hunter's block? It's a good thing there's no construction worker's block, or no work would ever get done. If legislator's block exists, I've never heard of it; more's the pity. In any case, the point is this: If you want to attain anything, you have to work for it.
The reverse is also true. Whatever you are will be the sum total of whatever you do with your time. Nothing more, and nothing less.
By method and discipline are to be understood the marshalling of the army in its proper subdivisions, the gradations of rank among the officers, the maintenance of roads by which supplies may reach the army, and the control of military expenditure.
As always, we have to remember that most of us aren't fighting a war or applying this guide to warfighting. Method and Discipline are, of course, critical to any undertaking. To consider a few examples:
If your goal is to get a job, then you will need to set aside time every day to research job opportunities, call companies, and send out resumes. You will do best-- I think most of us know this-- if you treat your job search as a job in itself, and show up to your computer at 8:00, dressed for work.
If your goal is attainment in any sort of art, or craft, or for that matter any sport or skill of any other kind, you will need to set aside time to practice every day. We talked about writing a few posts back. For some reason, writers or would-be writers would bend over backwards in order to find excuses not to write. You've heard of writer's block. Have you ever heard of baker's block, runner's block, boxer's block or hunter's block? It's a good thing there's no construction worker's block, or no work would ever get done. If legislator's block exists, I've never heard of it; more's the pity. In any case, the point is this: If you want to attain anything, you have to work for it.
The reverse is also true. Whatever you are will be the sum total of whatever you do with your time. Nothing more, and nothing less.
