Applying Sun Tzu’s Lessons and the Art of War to Everyday Life
Sun Tzu was a legendary military strategist in ancient China and the author of the famous book The Art of War . He was a master of soft power and the father of flexible warfare. Whenever possible, he preferred to win without a fight, or at least win the easiest battles first.
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He wrote: “In a war, the victorious strategist seeks battle only after the victory has been won.” He advised his troops to “take unexpected routes and attack unguarded places.” He further stated: “Military tactics are like water. For the water in its natural flow escapes from a height and rushes down. So, in war one must avoid what is strong and strike at the weak. “
Sun Tzu’s teachings extend far beyond the battlefield because they focus on finding the easiest way to achieve a specific goal. His approaches apply to everything from business growth and goal setting to weight loss and habit formation.
Let’s talk about how to apply military strategy to our daily lives.
Battle for Better Habits
Too often we try to form new habits, achieve big goals, or otherwise “win in life” with sheer strength. We fight directly and attack the enemy – in this case our bad habits – where they are strongest.
For instance:
- We try to follow a strict diet when we go out to dinner with friends.
- We try to write the book in a noisy environment.
- We try to eat healthy food in a home filled with sweets and sugar.
- We try to do our homework with the TV on.
- We try to concentrate using a smartphone filled with social media apps, games, and other distractions.
And when we go off course and fail to achieve our goals, we blame ourselves for “not wanting enough” and for not having enough willpower. However, in many cases, failure is not the result of poor willpower, but the result of poor strategy.
Good generals begin by winning easy battles and improving their position. They wait until resistance weakens and morale drops before they take on their enemy directly. Why start a war by fighting in well-defended territories? Why start new habits in an environment that makes progress difficult?
Sun Tzu would never have led his army into a battle where the terrain was unprofitable for him. He would not start by attacking the point where the enemy is strongest. Likewise, we must first easily improve our habits, build up our strength, and take a better position from which to attack the most difficult changes.
Sun Tzu, Master of Habits
Let’s adapt Sun Tzu’s teachings to develop better habits. Here are a few examples that allow him to apply his thoughts about war in everyday life.
Example 1:
- Sun Tzu: “You can be sure of the success of your attacks if you only attack unprotected places.”
- Adapted: “You can be confident that you will succeed in your habits if you only build habits that are easy to maintain.”
Example 2:
- Sun Tzu: “He will win, who knows when to fight and when not.”
- Adapted: “He will improve his behavior if he knows which habits to start with and which ones to leave for later.”
Example 3:
- Sun Tzu: “Therefore, an intelligent general avoids the army when its spirit is sharpened, but attacks it when it is slow and tends to return.”
- Adapted: “Therefore, a smart person avoids those areas where bad habits are strongest, but attacks them where they are weak and easy to change.”
Fight the battles you are destined to win
Getting better is not just a matter of willpower or work ethic. This is also a matter of strategy. People believe that lack of willpower or unwillingness to change is often the result of trying to develop good habits in a bad environment.
- If you’re trying to read more books, don’t do it in a room filled with video games, Netflix, and TV. Move to a less distracting environment.
- If you are very heavy, do not try a college athlete training program. After all, you can get there, but this is not the kind of battle you need to fight right now. Start with a guided change.
- If you are surrounded by people who frustrate your goals, work on projects elsewhere or reach out to like-minded people.
- If you’re trying to maintain the writing habit when your kids are back from school and your home is in chaos, work on it at a different time. Switch to a time of less resistance.
Build your habits where it’s easy. Redefine the situation. Create a game where the odds add up to your favor.
Sounds simple, but how often do you fight difficult battles and ignore the easy ones? There is plenty of time for difficult battles. Win easy battles first.
The smartest path to improvement is the path of least resistance. Fight the battles that you are destined to win.
How To Use War Strategy To Develop Better Habits | James Clear