"My Commentary for Chapter 5: Use of Energy"

I like this chapter, cause the way it describes efficiency in the use of energy. Energy of troops, or organizations skillfully commanded is like the momentum of rocks quickly tumbling down from a mountain thousands of feet in height. In "Sun Tzu For Execution" states three points to make use of energy efficient. They are build a sound organization structure, employ extraordinary force, and coordinate momentum and timing.

Build a Sound Organization Structure
Flowing energy has nothing to do with a company's size, but efficient movement is a matter of organization. It's also a matter of communication, so it does not matter if a company is small. It does not matter if a company is big, because they both need to be organize. To be organize it takes clear communication.

Employ Extraordinary Force
For a company to withstand other companies in same market it must understand itself as a whole. Normal forces, and extraordinary forces make up the whole. Normal force is able to engage other companies, and extraordinary force is use to pull out victory. Organize to operate as a whole will allow leaders to move forward in the market with infinite resources, and energy that's constantly flowing. Organize companies will have energy to keep moving, and its force will overwhelm its competitors.

Coordinate Momentum And Timing
In my opinion these are two concepts to understand, because great offenses are built of these. They are built off these, because momentum keeps going forward. It is like dozens of boulders rolling off a mountain, and this type of offense is created by timing. Right timing comes from studying the your enemy while he's on the battlefield, and seeing when he's vulnerable. Attacking an enemy when its vulnerable is better than attacking a wall, because attacking a wall wastes energy that gets a company no where.

My take
Companies fail not always cause of economy, but they fail due to lack of understanding how to use its energy wisely. Some small, and big companies never organize themselves according to their strengths. I think this comes from poor marketing strategy, so lack of organizing for a company will be like them being eggs thats thrown against a wall. There egg like foundation comes from lack of being organized, and communication. People in poor companies never know what its purpose, and lack of purpose does not bring companies profit. Companies not brining in profit is not so much the economy, but lack of understanding how use its energy wisely.
To redirect their energy from poorly being used they must clarify its purpose. Clarifying its purpose starts by asking themselves questions like why would customer, or other companies partner with us? What needs, and wants does our company provide the consumer? Once they figure that out, they need to figure out how they are going to be the best ones in providing to the consumer in what they need. That comes through marketing research, and this is where companies need to first invest in. Information on its products, and consumers are golden nuggets. Based upon this information they can define its purpose.
Defining its purpose will allow companies have its energy flow to have its force move across the market to be the best.

"Commentary For Chapter 4"

Chapter 4 of Michaelson's  "Sun Tzu's For Execution" is entitled "Disposition of Military Strength", and it's about what give certainty in a victory. That does not come through fierce fighting, but making no mistakes in it. He point's out three things for this to happen. They are be invincible, win without fighting, and use information to focus resources.

Be Invincible
This is a skill a warrior would master to be successful out in the battlefield, because this gives them the ability to protect themselves while gaining a complete victory. Invincibility is being in a defense position, and waits for an opponent to be vulnerable that will open itself for attack. Vulnerability shows an opponents when it is inadequate, and skill attackers will take advantage of this to be on route to victory.

Skilled warriors do not attack an enemy's strength, but studies them to where they know when they will be exposed. Being invincible is able to blend oneself with the earth, and this creates vulnerability for opponents. They get nervous when they cannot see who they are attacking, and could believe they are out of position. They may do something that causes them to instead be in position it causes them to be out of position, than the skill warrior attacks flashes like it is coming down from the sky.  That is being invincible, and that will bring victory.

Win Without Fighting
People believe that a successful warrior comes from victory in fierce fighting, but Sun Tzu does not define that as the excellence of victory. To him the excellence of victory is winning battles without making mistakes, and that's conquering an enemy that's already defeated. Not firing a single arrow for victory is more impressive than victory through fierce fighting, becauses its quick, does not exert a whole lot of energy, and saves resources. Learning the value of information is where victory without fighting begins.

Use Information to Focus Resources
To get useful information a warrior must study the elements of war. The elements of war are the measurement of space, the estimation of quantities, the calculation of figures, comparisions of strength, and chances of victory.
Studying these elements will give warriors information it needs to determine if it is more valuable for them to be invincible, or flash attack its enemies. This will also give an idea of how much space is require for it to move its operations, and how much supplies they need. This is value information that can give warriors the calculations to forecast victory.

"My Commentary for Chapter 3:Attack by Stratagem"

This chapter is one of my favorites, because it is about learning the importance of understanding strategy. It is also one of my favorite chapters, because it defines best way to obtain victory. That is to subdue your enemy without fighting, and there are 3 ways to do this. They are attack the enemy's strategy, disrupt his alliance through diplomatics, and last one would be to attack his army in the field. Ways to consistent victory are explained throughout this chapter.

Seek Circumstances That Assure Victory


Tzu points out five points that could be use for the prediction of victory.
1. He who knows when to fight, and when not to fight will win
2. He who understands how to handle both superior and inferior forces will win
3. He whose ranks are united in purpose will win
4. He who is well prepared and lies in wait for an enemy who is not well prepared will win
5. He whose generals are able and not interfered with by the sovereign will win

Understanding these points underline meaning will bring consistent victory that will allow business leader's companies be in control of their market. Winning a hundred battles does not necessary define your superiority, because those victories gained could also be losing profits. Quick victories with less fighting is more supreme in excellence, because it gives companies two things. They are being in control of their market, and quick victories could put them ahead of their competition.

"My Commentary for Chapter 2: Waging War"

Chapter 2 "For Execution" is about waging war, and this for business can translate competing in the free market. Michaelson states it clear that for business to be successful in the free market they must have leaders that understand the market to be control of it business fate by possessing secure ground.

For business leaders to have secure ground in a free market Michaelson points out four concepts that they must understand in chapter 2. Those concepts are marshal adequate resources, make time your ally, everyone must profit from victories, and last one is know your craft. In order four business leaders to wage competition they must understand these concepts.

Marshal Adequate Resources
There are a lot of people that are needed, and business leaders must have money to meet peoples demands to start securing their ground in the free market. That comes by analyzing on what is needed for them to have that, and this "x" that needs to be solve to get the adequate resources.

Michaelson uses the way Sun Tzu would establish his ground when waging war by showing how much heavy chariots, and mailed troops with transportation would cost. From that example readers can see the importance of figuring out how much adequate resources are needed for establishing secure ground.

Making Time Your Ally
Time is always going forward, and business leaders needs to move their companies along with that. Sun Tzu believes that the main objective of a massive army is a quick victory, because long battles cost more than the result of it. Some business leaders are taught the exact opposite in that obtaining quick victory is stupid, but that puts their companies out of position to control the market. That is where business leaders want to take their companies, and to get their it takes quick victories.

Long wars diminish an army's physical being, and that slows them from victory. That's what Michaelson wanted his readers to see when he states from Sun Tzu the army's weapons being blunted, and their ardor being down (p.8). Moving with time makes it an ally for business leaders, but being left behind from time will make it an enemy. That could crush business leaders company's ground, and be remove from another company that masters making time your ally.

Everyone Must Profit From Victories
This concept means that business leaders must maximize their victories for more, because outsourcing high price means more victories will cost companies more than they could afford.

Michaelson states that Sun Tzu understood this concept very well, because he knew that depletion of military supplies needed for victory will eventually destroy nation. To avoid that from happening his army would improvise through places they conquer, and things his army obtained would be use of positive reinforcement by giving the best items to whoever conquers a city the fastest. This concept supports the first two by continuing to supply adequate resources, and having fast victories to continue to wage war to gain more ground.

Knowing Your Craft


Business leaders battlefield is the free market, and they need to understand it to put their companies in secure ground to keep it alive, and also move through it quickly to be in control of its fate. Adequate resources and quick victory are what keeps business leaders secures their positions. More victories maximize will allow them to obtain adequate resources to meet people's demands, and fast victories will put them ahead of others to be control of the market. Those concepts are reasons to know your craft, and if you do not know your craft your company could be examples for text books to show future leaders on what not to do.

"My Commentary for Chapter 1: Laying Plans."

In chapter 1 of the first section Michaelson translates it from Sun Tzu's "The Art of War", and its first chapter title is "Laying Plans." He breaks this chapter into three sections that are thoroughly assess conditions, compare the seven attributes, and looking for strategic turns.

Thoroughly Assess Conditions is the first section of this chapter, and to make an assessment to predict outcome of war one must study various elements. Tzu points out five elements that are moral influence, weather, terrain, commander, and doctrine. He believe that whoever studies these elements to master them will win, and the one that does not will lose.

Compare the Seven Attributes is the next section that points to the importance of analyzing 7 comparisons to forecast victory, or defeat. Those seven elements are :
1. Which sovereign possess greater moral influence?
2. Which commander is more capable?
3. Which side holds more favorable conditions in weather and terrain?
4. On which sides decrees are better implemented?
5. Which side is superior in arms?
6. On which side are officers and men better trained?
7. Which side is stricter and more impartial in meting out rewards and punishments?

Looking for Strategic Turns is the last section of this chapter, and based upon the information Tzu believes that a commander must create a helpful situation that will help his side win battles. Tzu believe that all warfare is based upon deception. Deception creates opportunity for victory, and that comes from studying the five constant factors, and comparing the 7 attributes of warfare.

One of the statements come to mind when I think about "The Art of War" is that battles are won long before anyone steps out to the battlefield. Generals, or leaders in any field that understands this philosophy will spend countless hours in preparing for battle. They get the importance of laying plans, so based upon that it is important to me to be a student of life. A student of life is always studying to obtain the right information to create plans, and this is the foundation of the blueprint for success.

Free markets, and wars are great to compare to see how people in them are successful. Both of them are vital importance to the state, and nation. To be successful someone, or some people must first visualize it. Once it is visualize, than laying plans is need to go towards that visualization. This idea transcends into both free markets, and warfare. In order for ideas to be carried out it must lay a plan, and that it is why chapter 1 is important to read.

"How I came across Sun Tzu and Why I read His Stuff."

I've bought Sun Tzu's "The Art of War" through the influence of watching the movie "Wall-Street" that use the book throughout the movie's dialogue. After reading the book I came across other books that was written of it that were specific areas in business like sales, marketing, and management. I really enjoy reading these books, because I found the things I learned in it practical in what I was doing as a fitness consultant. My favorite of "The Art of War" series is "Sun Tzu For Execution", because it states the importance of being an executor for the plans that's created for success. Seeing the title for this book struck me with lightning, and I bought it to immediately read this book. That was three years ago, but I still read sections of this book from time to time. People in the business world claim that "The Art of War" is the Bible of the business world, because Sun Tzu's  strategy for warfare transcends into the world of business. Business and war both create a competitive world. Winners in this world win, because of their execution.

"Sun Tzu For Execution" is really two books that are sold as one, and author Steven W. Michaelson puts "The Art of War" as the first section. This great for people that have not read it yet, because they can see why business people uses Sun Tzu's war strategies for business success. Also I think it is included, so it gives readers an appreciation of Sun Tzu's ideas.

Reading "The Art of War" give readers the understanding on how it is important to be a student of strategy, and this is not applicable just in the business world. It is also applicable in life, and people not in business should read it. I believe that in life all people are sells people, because part of relationship connecting is persuasion. The anchor of persuasion are our ideas, and some people do not persuade others efficiently like others. That is why reading "The Art of War" is something I would recommend to anyone, because it could help them be better persuaders.

"My Commentary on Its Introduction"

Steven W. Michaelson is the author for "Sun Tzu For Execution", and it is one of many series that was written of the book originally author by Sun Tzu that's called "The Art of War." Michaelson focuses on the execution part of it, because from studying Tzu's writings he states that great execution gives companies many strategic options.

Michaelson wrote this book into two section, and the first book is the complete translation  of "The Art of War." The second section of the book is "The Art of Execution", and in it he breaks it down into 5 sections that's organize according to the thoughts of Sun Tzu. They are simplicity, alignment, people always, flexibility, and having towering strength.

Prior to previewing the book in his introduction Michaelson gave reader's reasons why it's important to understand the concept of execution. Michaelson makes it clear to the reader that it is about making the customer happy in the business world, and that's the objective of all businesses. In retail it is about clean floors, and fast checkout lanes. In manufacturing it is about the quality of its products, and in service it is about time. Pleasing customers are life lines for businesses, and successful companies understand that. That's why they understand the importance of executing customer value, so understanding this objective gives reader's reasons to read this book.

From reading this introduction my opinion is that great businesses understand importance of building customer value, and to get there they must execute their objectives consistently. If not, than plans that look great on the white board are meaningless.

Reading this introduction was well worth the time, and I would recommend this book to whoever is goal driven. Understanding how to execute your plans in life will give people consistency in reaching their objective, and Michaelson breaks it down to 5 sections along Tzu's thoughts of execution for readers to understand how to execute its plans to reach their goals.