The Mind of the Strategist:
Knowing the Questions

These five factors are the way to know who will win.
Therefore I say:
One who knows the enemy and knows himself
will not be in danger in a hundred battles.
One who does not know the enemy but knows himself
will sometimes win, sometimes lose.
One who does not know the enemy and does not know himself
will be in danger in every battle.

- Sun Tzu: Chapter Three—Planning an Offensive Attack

My previous article on Sun Tzu focused on his fundamental framework of strategic preparation, planning, and deployment. As a habit, I would usually pick up this book once every other season and begin reading it. As I reinterpreted the book, I would become fascinated with how its principles are so timeless and true. Whenever I read this book, I think of the word "pragmatic" and how it is universally applicable to any situation that requires absolute victory.

One lesson I learned from my reading of Sun Tzu regarding defeating an opponent is that you must know your opponent through various stages of analysis and calculations. The first step of analyzing the opposition is in asking the correct questions regarding the situation at hand.

The greatest victory is conquering one's self

Before you can conquer the opposition, you must first conquer yourself. This can be done through the process of self-questioning. Self-questioning creates the sense of self-awareness where you can read and recognize the possibilities and potential of each scenario. At the same time, you learn how to avoid potential disasters.

This article will briefly focus on some of those questions. (It will be presumed that you are the general of your army and that your mission requires a strong and disciplined mind.)

Understanding the Process of "Top-level" Planning

• What is your approach to planning?
• Do you (and/or your management team) possess the will to prepare?
• Do you know where to focus?
• Do you have what it takes to develop and deploy a plan?
• Do you like to compete directly or indirectly?

Chapter One to Three

• Do you know the Way of the Game?
• Do you have the ability to develop and analyze calculations?
• Have you gained Heaven and Ground?
• Can you deploy the law and commands of your organization and your army?
• Which army is strong?
• Which officers and soldiers are trained?
• Which reward and punish clearly?

If you can answer the last five questions, you will know victory and defeat.

• Do you have the capability to deploy the calculations in action?
• In a deployment situation, do you have the advantage? If you do not have the advantage, are you confused? Or strong, angry, humble, relaxed, or united?
• Where are you and the opposition not prepared?
• Are you and your opposition prepared for a wide range of contingencies?

Chapter Two: Doing Battle

• When doing battle, will you and your field generals seek a quick victory?
• Will your general be wise enough to strive by feeding off the energy of your opposition?
• If you understand warfare, are you wise enough to know that your field general is the guardian of your organization and the director of your organization's future?