“Sun Tzu and Success” - Professor M.S.Rao

“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star... you will still be beaten by people who spent their time working hard, and learning things and weren’t so lazy.” - Terry Prattchet


Every human being likes to be noticed. Everyone wants to be liked and appreciated by others. It all takes people to strive for success throughout their lives. It fires their enthusiasm. It forces them to follow uncharted paths. It compels them to go to any extent. However, very people realize their goals and achieve success while the majority fail and fall aside in the race towards success. In this regard, let us see success from the perspective of Sun Tzu, the Chinese philosopher and author who wrote the book The Art of War 2500 years ago.

According to Sun Tzu there are not more than five musical notes, yet the combination of these five give rise to more melodies than can ever be heard. There are not more than five primary colors, blue, yellow, red, white and black. There are not more than five cardinal tastes, sour, acrid, salt, sweet, bitter. Yet combinations of them yield more flavors than can ever be tasted. (Reference The Art of War Sun Tzu, Foreword by James Clavell)

Similarly, when you blend your inherent talents with various permutations and combinations you create more new talents. When you combine these talents with the skills that you acquire through reading, training, observation, learning and practice you can achieve your leadership success.

The five elements: water, fire, wood, metal, earth, are not always equally predominant; the four seasons make way for each other in turn. There are short days and long; the moon has its periods of wanting and waxing. Similarly, life is all full of peaks and valleys, ups and downs and success and failures. People must learn how to harness their energies for achieving all round success in their lives. They must learn to adjust their sail as per the changing wind and move forward towards the destination of success.

Success doesn’t come easily. It comes at a cost. It requires lot of struggles and sacrifices. It requires lot of passion, perseverance and patience. It takes lot of energies and efforts. At times people end up as unsung heroes. However, we must constantly and continuously strive for success by hoping light at the end of the tunnel.


Professor M.S.Rao
Founder and Chief Consultant,
MSR Leadership Consultants, India
Blog: http://profmsr.blogspot.com
Where Knowledge is Wealth
Email: profmsr7@gmail.com



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