The Art of War

It’s WAR time!

No, I’m just joking. I’m not (yet) trying to find the best strategy to conquer the entire planet. Nonetheless, I came to understand that everything, really everything in this life needs a careful planning. So I decided to read one of the best “guides” in the world: Art of War by Sun Tzu. Come on! It has been used by some of the best tacticians for centuries, so I think I can rely on the source.

You may ask: why would you, a woman, want to master the craft of warfare if you’re not planning to attack your neighbours or you’re not a marketing strategist? The answer is easier than you think. Because I wish I could be successful at my work. I still can't seem able to find a job where they actually pay me every month and that’s a problem folks. But I think I found the solution (or at least I’m trying to) a couple of days ago. I was at a book fair and I came across this volume with a samurai sword on its cover. I picked it up and I read the synopsis. In about two seconds I was totally caught up in it and I had to buy it. So...now I have not only bought it, but also read it. What can I say? It’s all about STRATEGY. Besides, I could never say no to a challenge (that might be one of my problems too).

After reading the introduction and a few chapters I thought about all the other possible situations in which I could use some let’s call it “expertise”. The first? My crappy love life for example. I am really unable to keep a relationship for more than three months, for a whole bunch of reasons I will not analyse, so: why shouldn’t I try something different?

It may sound a little bit too much, but you know what they say… All is fair in LOVE and WAR. I may not be the ultimate expert when it comes to love, but it comes to survival and battle skills I can quite defend myself.

The insights this ancient Chinese treatise provides to the reader can be applied to all areas, from the hunt for a job to how to first mollify than crush your so-called "opponents". For once in my life I will definitely try to follow the advices of a savvy old man that may have died a long time ago, but whose words are ageless.

"Sun Tzu said: The art of war recognizes nine varieties of ground: Dispersive ground; facile ground; contentious ground; open ground; ground of intersecting highways; serious ground; difficult ground; hemmed-in ground; desperate ground."

You may have noticed that this list comprehends almost any ground imaginable because...War can be declared everywhere and the better you are prepared, the better you can win. Even if it includes the occasional use of well-trained spies, or fire, or possible variations. Anyhow, you'd better have a solid plan to begin with.

PISTOLS (or swords) at DAWN!

#consciousness #artofwar #challenge #suntzu