I'm supposed to read "The Art of War" for work

[dolo amber]

(don't ask :eyes:) and I don't feel like it. Who wants to give me the Cliff Notes version? :D

[Richardo]

1. Some Asian guy says 'know your enemy'

.

[billyskank]

2. "Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer!"

That ought to do. :hi:

[dolo amber]

3. I thought that was The Godfather

:shrug:

[Richardo]

4. Don Vito was a big fan of Sun Tzu

Not really.

[billyskank]

9. Geez, you are picky

:eyes:


;)

[Atmashine]

5. Talk about a hostile work environment!

http://www.online-literature.com/suntzu/artofwar/

This site has lotsa brackets to say things in plain english.

[dolo amber]

8. Non-profit grant writing is not for the weak

:D

[CaliforniaPeggy]

6. My dear dolo amber!

This is one book that just might surprise you with how good it is!

Isn't it the one by Lao-Tsu? It is a classic!

:hi:

[dolo amber]

12. As silly as it might sound,

I'm like the only person I know who *hasn't* read it. I'd miss being in my own special ignorant club. ;)

[Magrittes Pipe]

14. I haven't read it.

You forgot about me again. :(

[dolo amber]

17. How is that possible?

You've read EVERYTHING. :shrug:

[Magrittes Pipe]

18. I haven't read "Gone with the Wind," "War and Peace," or...

..."The DaVinci Code" either.

[EstimatedProphet]

19. You haven't read War and Peace?!

Doofus.

[GirlinContempt]

26. You haven't read War and Peace??!?!?

[asthmaticeog]

29. You haven't read War and Peace??

Sorry, I couldn't resist piling on. I haven't read it either.

[tigereye]

32. I couldn't finish the DaVinci Code

I have read War and Peace though. Yeah, I'm a snob.

[DS1]

28. Ever since some douche writer for the Sopranos had a shot of Tony

walking with it, it's taken off. Just like all the cooking wanna-be fuckers who watched Joe Pantoliano cook spaghetti came in the next Monday and were suddenly fucking pasta experts :eyes:

and here's a summary I found, some shithead in the financial industry thought he'd be "cool"


In summary, there are several important themes developed by Sun Tzu as they can be applied to portfolio management and risk management challenges.

Strategic Planning And Rational Analysis
Planning based on rational analysis of the best quality information available.

Importance Of Information And Related Processing Capability
Secure the best information available. Protect the sources and processing capabilities from compromise.

Importance Of Knowledge, Wisdom, And Understanding
A theme that is imbedded in virtually every other theme, especially in regard to knowing self and opposition.

Study The Past, Market Analysis, Develop And Maintain An "Edge"
Leads to knowledge, which, if properly focused, can lead to success.

Strive to become the superior force in more than mere numbers. This is achieved through focused knowledge and experience, which, in turn, is gained by studying and observing situations, conditions, people, and events; remembering what was observed; comparing the observations to one another as well as to contemporary circumstances; and by disciplined application of the results of the observations in the pursuit of strategic objectives.

Know yourself, your opposition, and the environment within which interaction will occur.

Staying Focused On Strategic Objectives
Keep attention of all resources and related action focused on achieving strategic objectives as promptly as possible. Avoid becoming distracted by the nuances and intricacies of implementing complex strategies and tactics.

Suitability Of Strategies And Tactics To Situation
Match the suitability of strategies and tactics to the market's phase, section, pattern, and volatility.

Inherent Advantages And Disadvantages
Understand, and guard against, the inherent disadvantage in every advantageous situation. Likewise, be alert to capitalizing on advantages that occur in distressed situations.

Opportunistic Flexibility In Adapting Strategies And Tactics To Situation
The way to capitalize on the endless opportunities created by ever-changing market conditions, is to become engaged as a part of a well thought out trading plan and be flexible in adapting tactics to those ever-changing market conditions within the context of each pre-determined strategy.

Ethical Conduct
Be moral and ethical in all things.

Rely On Your Own Preparation
Rely on your own preparations. Do not hope for success based on the opposition not preparing.

Competent Management
Develop a balanced management skill set to enable prudent resource utilization.

Disciplined Emotions
Minimize emotional influences (hope, fear, greed).

Disciplined Organization And Financial Management
Discipline, efficient, and effective organization, and utilization of all resources (people, plans, tools, capital), in the capacity to which they are best suited, in all situations, is critical to success.

Ensure appropriate financing and provisioning of all activities (prior to and during).

Clear Communication
Ensure clear communication in all aspects of the development, testing, and implementation of strategies and tactics.

Deception And "Shaping"
Practice deception in plans, strategy, and tactics, and its corollary;

Avoidance Of Being Deceived And "Shaped"
Take precautionary steps to avoid being deceived by the opposition.

Reward, Replenish, And Invest In Support Structure
After a successful strategy, be sure to allocate appropriate parts of the profits to all resources employed in the portfolio management and risk management activity.

Patience, Positioning, And Timing
Develop patience and discipline in positioning and timing the use of all resources in adapting to ever-changing circumstances.

Avoidance Of Catastrophic Loss
Avoid catastrophic mistakes, by promptly adapting strategies and tactics to current circumstances, thereby, keeping the consequences of mistakes small and manageable.

Preservation And Protection Of Resources
At all times, and especially when strategies are in play, seek to keep all resources in profitable and advantageous positions. Likewise, quickly liquidate unprofitable positions and minimize exposure to situations with inordinate risk to uncertain market movements


=============

WELL NOOOOOOO SHIT! Like I said in 25. obvious shit to anyone with a brain

[bridgit]

7. it's interesting stuff kinda like zen, buddhism, the Iching and the why...

of how the battle of little big horn went so freakishly wrong for some

[dolo amber]

13. I see...

This is clearly essential information to have for democratic (read: mercenary) organizing. :D

[bridgit]

16. yup...

:D

[maxsolomon]

10. just think of the US strategy in Iraq

the opposite of that is Sun Tzu's The Art of War.

you should read it. it will make your head explode.

[dolo amber]

15. Hrm...you're not in advertising by any chance, are you?

:D ;)

[maxsolomon]

20. no, i subscribe to Adbusters

but when i read it (online) it made me NOTICABLY ANGRIER!

:mad:

[maxsolomon]

11. dupe

how embarassing

[Progressive4Life]

27. "A battle is won or lost before it is even fought"...

...or something to that extent. Michael Douglas talks about it in Wall Street.

[electron_blue]

21. It's actually not very long.

Well worth reading - it's not just about war & battles, but about long-term preparations and needed footwork for peaceful solutions. The Dems could learn a lot by invoking many of the principles put forth in there. So, um, I say go read it, forget any cliffs nots you'll find.

[kedrys]

22. You should really read it

It's not that long, and it might give you *interesting* ideas on how to deal with, er, any adverse work situations.

I read it at work and passed it around a few years ago, and my unbelievable bastard of a boss completely freaked out. :P

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

23. You absolutely should read it.

It's worth it.

[ThomCat]

24. If you are not prepared to be strong then you will be weak.

[DS1]

25. Bunch of obvious crap - he was just the first one to write it down

It's really an overrated book

sabotage your competitors, deny them food, make them cold and hungry, attack with a greater force, keep a close eye on them, always have a plan B

there, "Art of War" fucking done. insert nextel beep-beep here.

[dolo amber]

30. I somehow knew if you were around and saw this

you would have the most succinct summary. :rofl:

:thumbsup:

[tigereye]

31. mmm

it actually will explain what the Bush admin. failed to do....