[personal profile] readoldthings
Sun Tzu continues:

Therefore, in your deliberations, when seeking to determine the military conditions, let them be made the basis of a comparison, in this wise:

He then gives us seven questions for comparison. I want to take a few at a time. The first is:

1. Which of the two sovereigns is imbued with the Moral Law?

To which our translator appends the note:

I.e., which ruler is in harmony with his subjects?
 
2. Which of the two generals has most ability?
 
All of these considerations apply whether or not there is any known competition for your goal-- although there often is. If you are applying for a job at a bank, the bank is the terrain of battle, the job the goal, and your competitors for the job the opposing sovereign. The job description and required qualifications are the Tao or Moral Law for this scenario. Your skills at managing an interview are your abilities as a general. Both are critical factors; if you are qualified, but come across as a total dweeb or psychopath, you will often be passed over in favor of a slightly less qualified but socially competent person. Ditto if your goal is a date.

It's worth considering your target itself as your opponent, as well. In this case the hiring agent is the opposing general. How does that change the way you think about things?
 
3. With whom lie the advantages of Heaven and Earth?

If you apply for a job at a ski resort in May, the advantage lies with the enemy. Apply in the Fall, and you've got a much better shot.  

4. On which side is discipline most enforced?

5. Which side is stronger?

6. On which side are officers and men more highly trained?

7. In which army is there greater constancy both in reward and punishment?




All of these come back to what we talked about yesterday, method and discipline. 

It's worth taking time and thinking about how to apply Sun Tzu's questions to any particular goal. What does training mean when your goal is making dinner for your wife and kids? What sort of discipline is necessary if your goal is the completion of a novel or the cleaning of your basement? How can reward and punishment be used in a personal context, if your goal is to train for a marathon or a boxing match?
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