Shared Top Border

 

 

Your Account

Home
Up
105.htm
105quo
105exp1.
105exp2
105ex3
105t.htm
106.htm
106quo
106e1.htm
106e2.htm
106e3.htm
106t.htm
107.htm
107-.htm
107e1.htm
107e2.htm
107e1.htm
107t.htm
108.htm
108quo
69ex1
69ex2
69ex3
108t
109
109quo
109ex1
109ex2
109ex3
109t
110
110quo
110ex1
110ex2
110ex3
110t
111.htm
111quo
111ex1
111ex2
111ex3
111t
112
112quo
120ex1
120ex2
120ex2
112t
113
113quo
113ex1
113ex2
113ex3
113t
114
114ex1
114ex2
114ex3
114ex4
114t
115
115quo
115ex1
115ex2
115ex2
115t
116.htm
116quo
116ex1
116ex2
116ex3
116t.htm
117.htm
116quo
116ex1
116ex2
116ex2
117t.htm
118.htm
118quote.htm
118explain1.htm
118explain1.htm
118explain1.htm
118t.htm
119.htm
119quote.htm
119explain1.htm
119explain1.htm
69explain1.htm
119t.htm
120.htm
120quote.htm
120explain1.htm
120explain1.htm
120explain1.htm
120t.htm
121.htm
121quote.htm
121explain1.htm
121explain1.htm
121t.htm
122.htm
122quote.htm
122explain1.htm
122explain1.htm
122explain1.htm
122t.htm
123.htm
123quote.htm
123explain1.htm
123explain1.htm
123explain1.htm
123t.htm
124.htm
124quote.htm
124explain1.htm
124explain1.htm
124explain1.htm
124t.htm
end.htm

Weakness and Strength - Lessons 105-124

This chapter is about the unity of two seemingly opposing concepts. We can express these opposing concepts in a variety of ways: weakness and strength, emptiness and fullness, ignorance and knowledge, neediness and satisfaction. While we express these opposing concepts in different ways, Sun Tzu sees them as a single idea. Weakness is the same as emptiness, ignorance, and neediness. Strength is the same as fullness, knowledge, and satisfaction. Both concepts—weakness and strength—are united and dependent upon each other, one continuous quality describing the structure of opportunity in the real world.

The unity of these opposing concepts is critical. Weakness and strength are combined in every competitor and every situation. We all have strengths and we all have weaknesses. More importantly, our strengths and weaknesses do not exist on their own; they arise from the strengths and weaknesses of others. Strength and weakness are relative values, defined by our relationship with our markets and competition.

We must understand the “structure of opportunity” in order to know when and how to move forward. The last chapter discussed the idea of innovation in direct competition. The present chapter shows how we find opportunities by leveraging our unique strengths in the marketplace.

 Here, we learn the meaning of focus. We learn why there is one and only one appropriate focus at any given point in time. We learn why size and resources do not give anyone a real advantage in competition.

To start the Lessons 105 - 124, click here.

These lessons are a little harder that the previous ones. You must figure out the answer from the explanation and the quote. You are still given two chances to get it right, but we never give you the correct answer directly.

As you learn what answers are wrong, you are also learning what answers are right.

Review Lessons

You can ignore the questions if you want using the [Next] and [Back] buttons just to look at the slides (except when retaking the test). You can use the [Up] button to return to this page (except when retaking test).

To retake the Final Test, click here.

 

 

 

[Back] [Next]

Copyright 2005-2008 Science of Strategy Institute, Clearbridge Publishing, and Gary Gagliardi
The leading publishers of booksbased on Sun Tzu's The Art of War