Remember, in this case you are not serving your country or sovereign but the higher
purpose and values that you chose for yourself.
Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war
first and then seek to win.
Planning is everything. Before you bring your product or service to market your
success or failure is a foregone conclusion - so make sure you've tested the waters
and researched thoroughly.
And again this speaks to the calm and calculated nature of the warrior – the warrior
does not rush in headlong, despite their control over their fear.
Lessons From The Prince
Whosoever desires constant success must change his conduct with the times.
This is particularly important to note if
you run a large organization and are in
danger of resting on your laurels. Be
thinking one step ahead at all times if
you want to avoid the same fate as
Kodak.
This echoes the sentiments we
discussed earlier too, about being willing to change your principles and adapt where
necessary. But this should come from within, not from without.
Men ought to be well treated or crushed, because they can avenge themselves of
lighter injuries, of more serious ones they cannot.
'Crushing' your opponents and employees may not be encouraged in ethical business
(interestingly Sun Tsu is actually much more pacifist than Machiavelli) but the point is
still valid - don't make enemies then give them time to lick their wounds.