Sun Tzu – The Art of War 7.7

Thus, if you order your men to roll up their buffcoats, and make forced marches without halting day or night, covering double the usual distance at a stretch, doing a hundred LI in order to wrest an advantage, the leaders of all your three divisions will fall into the hands of the enemy.

Sun Tzu’s Art of War advises military leaders to be strategic and thoughtful in their approach to battle. One important aspect of warfare is timing, and knowing when to move quickly or slowly can mean the difference between victory and defeat.

In chapter 7, Sun Tzu discusses the dangers of moving too quickly. He warns against making forced marches without rest or breaking up your army into small, vulnerable groups. These tactics may seem like they will help you gain an advantage, but they are more likely to result in disaster.

Sun Tzu uses the example of ordering your men to roll up their buffcoats and make forced marches without stopping. While this may sound impressive and daring, it actually puts your leaders in danger of being captured by the enemy. Moving too quickly and without rest also exhausts your troops and can lead to mistakes and poor decision-making.

Instead, Sun Tzu advises military leaders to carefully plan their movements and use tactical maneuvers to outmaneuver their opponents. This requires patience and discipline, but it ultimately leads to better results.

The lesson from this chapter can also be applied to business and life. Rushing into decisions or trying to accomplish too much too quickly can lead to burnout, mistakes, and missed opportunities. It’s important to take the time to plan and strategize, and to be patient in pursuing your goals. By doing so, you’ll be more likely to achieve success in the long run.