Chess and the Art of War

 

Although Sun Tzu passed away 2500 years ago, his principles live on in today's leaders who embody those principles. Famous people including Presidents, CEOs, and sports stars continue to listen to the words of Sun Tzu to their advantage. However, any leader who is able to unlock extraordinary accomplishments from both himself and ordinary people around him represents most the strategic wisdom of Sun Tzu, who himself unlocked the smaller state of Wu's potential to conquer the largest state of Ch'u in 506 BCE.

The wisdom of Sun Tzu must always be active, even when it appears it isn't moving. This activity must be focused on constantly paying attention to changing conditions and taking into account as many variables as possible to ensure the decision that is being made is the most appropriate and thus most potent. “If you can learn to speed up your 'thinking' and slow down your actual 'moves,' you will be enlightened with a foresight that enhances your vision to see down the street, around the corner, up the block, over the bridge and through the alley on the other side of the river," says Coach Jeffrey L. Butts, founder of Chess is Life.

Sun Tzu believed a good leader transcends the rules, not because he or she doesn't understand the basics, but because he or she has mastered the basics and knows when to adjust to be more effective in a new situation. Life, like war and chess, offers an unfathomable amount of choices. Don't be your own enemy by limiting yourself to only a few. Engage with the orthodox, prevail with the unorthodox. The paths to success are many but only if you can open your mind and widen your vision to see them.

There are only two kinds of charge in battle, the unorthodox surprise attack and the orthodox direct attack, but variations of the unorthdox and the orthodox are endless.

U.S. Marines are known as some of the most fearsome and intellectual warriors on the planet. For many decades, Sun Tzu's Art of War was mandatory reading for all U.S. Marine Corps officers. Former U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis said, "The Marine Corps has always been more Eastern-oriented. I am much more comfortable with Sun Tzu and his approach to warfare."

In ancient times skillful warriors first made themselves invincible, and then watched for vulnerability in their opponents.

The U.S. Marine Corps's love for strategic wisdom isn't because it sounds nice but because it is practical and useful. When people are armed with this advantageous tool, they are later more likely to become successful, contributing citizens in society. Since they are critical thinkers, they are not trouble makers but rather problem solvers and formidable competitors in an increasingly competitive global environment.