There are five ways to victory:She who knows when to fight and when not to fight, wins.
She who knows when to use many or few troops, wins.
She who obtains the wholehearted support of her troops, wins.
She who is well prepared to seize favorable opportunities, wins.
She who can free herself from interference from superiors, wins.
Win Before you Fight
1. Ancient warriors first place themselves in an invincible position, then wait for the opportunity to defeat their enemies.
2. Master Sun is really saying that you need to know that every part of your battle plan—all strategies, tactics, and contingencies—are in place and certain to work well before the battle begins. Born in the midst of a civil war that lasted 550 years, Sun Tzu knew the only sure thing about a way, once it’s begun, is that there are no sure things.
3. The reason you need that ability is simple: No matter how hard you work, no matter how much you prepare, you will encounter things that you didn’t plan for once the fighting begins. You will have to adapt.
4. Victory Appears in Your Mind First: Victorious soldiers win first, then seek battle; vanquished soldiers fight first, then seek victory.
5. A winner experiences winning in her body, mind and soul before she even goes to fight the battle.
6. How do you achieve a winning attitude? Simply wanting to win, obviously, does not make you a winner, but it is the necessary first step. We all think we want to win, yet many love the joy of struggle far more than the joy of winning.
From "The Art of War for Women" by chin-ning chu
