Your Venture Should be Like Water
Sun Tzu states: “Military tactics are like unto water, for water in its natural course runs away from high places and hastens downwards. So in war, the way to avoid what is strong is to strike what is weak.
Water shapes its course according to the ground over which it flows; the solider works out his victory in relation to the foe whom he is facing.
Therefore, just as water retains no constant shape, so in warfare there are no constant conditions.
He who can modify his tactics in relation to his opponent and thereby succeed in winning, may be called a heaven-born captain.”
With our ventures, it’s important to remain flexible and fluid. We live in an ever-changing business world with ever-changing possibilities. If we aren’t capable of adapting and bending to various circumstances, then we’re likely to snap like a twig when the pressures on.
Sun Tzu makes me think that even if you are doing something right one way, there are still other ways to do the same thing right. For instance, if you have been making money off of Google ads with a certain tactic of yours, don’t become complacent and think that since you have found the “right” way then that’s all you have to do…
It’s best if you continue seeking those “right” ways no matter what. Because when push comes to shove, you’re better off having a war chest of multiple “right ways” than just one that you have been using all along.
Your business ideas must never stop moving; they must constantly evolve and continue to flow like water. Don’t pull your boat out of the water once you’ve reached your destination; keep the motor running and keep that boat moving in the water. Because once you pull it out and it’s time to get moving again… guess what? That boat is on land and now you’ll have to go through many, many steps to get it running again (gas it up, repairs, prime the engine, etc..). Time that can cost your business greatly.
Personally, I like to dedicate an entire wall of my room (re: office) to ideas. I call it the “idea wall.” I simply start an idea by jotting down notes on an 8×11 sheet of computer paper and post that paper on the wall. Every time I have a new idea or an improvement on an existing idea, I take a pen and update the idea on the wall. As I get new idea, I start another section on the wall for that particular idea and so on…
When you think business make sure to think “Water.” Do that, and your ideas will continue to flow. Which in turn, will allow your venture to stay in the water – constantly moving and evolving.
How do you keep the ideas flowing and your venture flexible?
Leave a Comment