Sun Tzu was a general, thinker, and strategist from ancient China. He lived over 2,500 years
ago and is famous for writing The Art of War—a book that’s still talked about today when it
comes to strategy and smart decision-making. For Sun Tzu, winning was never about brute
strength or charging into battle. He believed the best win was one where you didn’t even
have to fight. If you could read the situation well, plan ahead, and outthink your opponent,
you’d already won before the fight began. According to him, real power comes from
knowing yourself, knowing your enemy, and shaping the situation in a way that things naturally go
your way. He even believed that sometimes, the best way to win… is to avoid conflict altogether.
Even though The Art of War was written for military leaders, its lessons go way
beyond the battlefield. Whether you’re leading a team, running a business, negotiating a deal,
or just trying to make better choices in daily life—Sun Tzu’s wisdom still applies.
In this video, we’ll explore how to outsmart others by using the timeless strategies of Sun Tzu
1. Know Yourself and Know Your Opponent Sun Tzu says “If you know the enemy and
know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.”
Before going into battle, Sun Tzu studied everything—the lay of the land,
the weather,How strong was his army? How motivated his soldiers felt? Where was
he vulnerable? What risks were worth taking—and which ones could backfire?
And just as carefully, he studied his enemies. How did they move? How did their leaders think?
What were they relying on for supplies? What was the mood like in their camp? This balance—knowing
both sides—helped him win with minimal damage. Sometimes, he didn’t even have to fight at all.
The problem is, most people skip the first step. They don’t truly know themselves.
They walk into conflicts or negotiations without thinking about what drives them, what triggers
them, or where they’re vulnerable. And when you don’t know that, you make mistakes. If you’re
quick to anger, someone can push your buttons and throw you off. If you avoid confrontation,
someone can pressure you into giving in. Self-awareness is your first defense. Before
you try to outsmart anyone else, make sure you can’t be outsmarted by your own habits.
The second step is knowing the other person by paying attention. People have patterns. They
show who they are when they’re under stress, when they’re winning, and when they’re losing.
Watch what matters most to them. Notice what they overlook. If they rush through details,
that’s where mistakes happen. If they hate being questioned, that’s where they lose patience. The
more you understand, the less you have to guess. When you know yourself and you know others,
you can see what’s coming. You don’t need to rush. You can wait, protect your weak spots,
and make your move when the time is right. So next time you’re in a tough situation—a
negotiation, an argument, a competition—stop for a moment and ask yourself: What do I know
about me? What do I know about them? Where do our strengths and weaknesses cross?
Say you’ve been having tension with a co-worker. They’ve been undermining
you subtly in meetings—nothing dramatic, just small comments that make you look less capable.
You know you tend to avoid confrontation and let things slide. But this time,
you pause and reflect. You remind yourself: you hate conflict, but staying silent hasn’t helped.
You also realize that your co-worker thrives on attention. They make those comments when
others are watching, not one-on-one. So you prepare. You catch them privately,
away from the audience. You calmly explain what you’ve noticed and how it affects your work.
No anger. No drama. Just facts and clarity. Because you know your weakness, you control
it. Because you understand their patterns, you don’t walk into their games. And because you
stayed calm and prepared, the conversation shifts in your favour and you get the result you wanted.
Those three simple questions—about you, about them, and about where your strengths and
weaknesses overlap—can give you a surprising level of control. Suddenly, the chaos becomes
clear. And when things are clear, like Sun Tzu said, you can walk into any battle without fear.
2. Win Without Fighting Sun Tzu once wrote “To subdue the
enemy without fighting is the acme of skill.” Sun Tzu didn’t think of war as just fighting
one battle after another. For him, war was a strategy. The best kind of victory, he believed,
was one where no blood was shed at all. Before starting any campaign, he always looked for
ways to win without even lifting a sword. As we mentioned, he studied the enemy’s strengths and
weaknesses just as carefully as his own. If they depended on supplies, he cut them off.
If their morale was low, he found ways to break it further. If they relied on speed, he slowed
them down. And he avoided any fight where his own weaknesses could be exposed. To Sun Tzu, walking
away from a fight wasn’t fear—it was wisdom. Outsmarting someone doesn’t always mean going
head-to-head. Often, the smartest move is to shift the situation so they can’t even
compete. It’s not about attacking. It’s about staying in control—shaping things
so that by the time a conflict could begin, the outcome is already leaning in your favor.
Let’s say two companies are targeting the same customers. One starts a price war—cutting rates
to grab attention. The other takes a step back and thinks: what’s their real strength? Low
prices. But what’s their weak spot? Poor customer service. So instead of joining the price battle,
the second company focuses on something the other can’t match—exceptional service.
And just like that, it’s not even a fight anymore. The game changed. The
second company wins by being smarter, not louder. Or imagine there’s someone in your life—a friend,
a co-worker, or maybe a family member—who always loves to argue. No matter what you talk about,
they somehow turn it into a debate. They enjoy it. That’s their strength. They like pushing
people’s buttons and getting a reaction. One day, they say something that annoys you.
You feel yourself getting upset. You want to respond, prove them wrong,
maybe even shut them down. But then it hits you—that’s exactly what they want. The more
emotional you get, the more power you give them. You, on the other hand, are someone who values
peace. You don’t like drama. But if you let them get under your skin, you lose that peace.
So instead of reacting, you stay calm. You give a short,
simple reply. You don’t argue. You just move on. Now they don’t get the reaction they were hoping
for. And you stay in control, without saying much at all.
It turns out, the only winning move is not to play…
3. Use Deception To quote Sun Tzu “When you are strong,
appear weak. When you are weak, appear strong.” Sun Tzu often used this simple idea: keep people
guessing. He didn’t want his enemies to know what he was really planning. If his army was strong
and ready, he’d sometimes act cautious—like he was afraid—just to throw them off. If he
was in a weak spot, he’d show confidence so they wouldn’t attack too soon. This confusion made the
enemy unsure—and in war, that uncertainty can be just as powerful as any weapon.
Being smart isn’t just about knowing what’s true—it’s about guiding what others think
is true. If people can easily guess what you’ll do next, they’ll plan around you.
But if they’re unsure, you’re the one in control. So if you’re in a strong position, don’t show all
your confidence right away. Stay calm, stay humble. Let people think they have the upper
hand. People who believe they’re winning tend to relax or make sloppy choices. But if you show off
too early, they’ll dig in and fight harder. Now if you’re the one in a tough spot,
don’t panic. Don’t let it show. People often push harder when they sense weakness.
So even if things aren’t going your way, keep your cool. Act like you’ve still got
options—even if you don’t have many. That calm energy can make others back off or think twice.
Let's say you're in a meeting, talking to a client. You have other offers on the table,
so you’re not desperate for this deal—but you don’t make a big show of it. You stay calm. You
listen more than you speak. You let them talk. As the conversation flows, they begin to trust
you. Then comes the moment. They ask for something that’s a bit much. You pause,
and with quiet confidence, you say: “I understand why that’s important to
you… but usually, that falls under a different package. If we’re sticking to this budget,
we might need to leave that part out.” You don’t argue. You don’t chase.
You simply stand your ground—with ease. Now picture the opposite. This time, you really
need the job. But again, you don’t let it show. You ask thoughtful questions. You act like someone
who has options—even if, deep down, you don’t. They try to rush you. Push for an answer. But
instead of panicking, you just smile and say: “Let me think it through
and get back to you tomorrow.” That moment right there changes everything.
They feel your calm. They sense your steadiness. And suddenly, the way they treat you shifts.
So remember: when you’re strong, don’t show all your strength. When you’re weak,
don’t show all your weakness. Keep them guessing, and you control the game.
4. Control the Terrain According to Sun Tzu, “He who occupies the field
of battle first and awaits his enemy is at ease.” Sun Tzu believed the ground you fight on
can decide the outcome before the battle even begins. He said that the best generals choose the
battlefield—the terrain that works for them, not for the enemy. If the land gave him an advantage,
he fought. If it didn’t, he moved until it did. By controlling the ground, he controlled the fight.
In life, “terrain” isn’t just physical space—it’s the environment, the context, the rules of
engagement. And outsmarting someone often comes down to shaping the situation so that others play
by your rules, and not the other way around. Take negotiations as an example. If you let
the other person set the time, the place, and the agenda, you’ve already given up control.
You’re reacting instead of leading. But if you choose the meeting time, set the agenda,
and control the pace, you shape the discussion in your favor. Even small things matter. A familiar
setting can keep you calm and focused, while making the other side adjust to your space.
Controlling the terrain also applies to mental space. If you allow someone to frame the issue,
they control the story. But if you set the frame early - decide what matters and what doesn’t - you
control how the conversation unfolds. For example, imagine you’re in a salary
negotiation. If your employer starts the discussion by saying,
“We have a tight budget this year,” they’ve framed the conversation around limits. You’re
now playing on their ground. Instead, you start by framing the discussion around value:
“Let’s look at the results I’ve delivered and how they’ve helped the company grow.” That
shift changes the entire tone. You’ve moved the conversation from their limits to your
worth—and now you’re on stronger ground. So before stepping into any challenge—ask
yourself: Where does this play out best for me? How can I set the terms so I’m on solid ground?
Because when you control the ground, you control the flow, and when you control the flow you win.
5. Use Speed and Surprise As we learn from Sun Tzu, “Speed is the
essence of war. Take advantage of the enemy’s unpreparedness;
travel by unexpected routes and strike him where he has taken no precautions.”
Sun Tzu often used speed as a weapon. He knew that when an enemy hesitated, even for a moment,
it created an opening. Striking suddenly, at the right time, could decide the outcome
before the other side even had a chance to respond. Surprise creates confusion.
Speed turns that confusion into victory. Outsmarting someone isn’t always about
being stronger—it’s about being quicker when it matters most. While others waste
time overthinking or waiting for perfect conditions, you act. Decisive moves catch
people off guard because most expect hesitation. Take business, two companies see a new opportunity
in the market. One holds endless meetings, debating every risk. The other moves fast,
launches first, and captures the attention of customers before anyone else gets there.
That speed changes everything. By the time the competition reacts, the game is already over.
Take relationships. Imagine you’ve been avoiding a hard conversation with your
partner. Tension is building, and both of you are holding back, waiting for the other
to speak first. This is where speed and surprise work in your favor—not to attack, but to disarm.
Instead of waiting, you calmly bring it up when they least expect it, maybe in a quiet moment,
with an open and honest tone: “Can we talk about something that’s been on my mind?” That unexpected
move changes the energy. It shows confidence, and it prevents the issue from growing into a
bigger conflict. By acting early and calmly, you control the direction before emotions take over.
Speed and surprise work best when paired with timing. You don’t rush blindly—you wait for the
right moment, the one where the other side is unprepared or too comfortable. Then you
move—not aggressively, but decisively. So the next time you sense hesitation,
ask yourself: Can I act now while everyone else is waiting? Can I speak up before the
silence turns into a storm? The person who moves first often sets the tone for everyone else.
6. Exploit Emotions Sun Tzu teaches, “If your opponent
is of choleric temper, seek to irritate him. Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant.”
Sun Tzu understood that emotions could be more dangerous than weapons. An angry army can be led
into traps. A proud leader can be tricked into making mistakes. Why? Because anger,
greed, and pride cloud judgment. They make people act without thinking—and
when that happens, strategy disappears. When people are emotional they become predictable
because they’re reacting, not planning. And when someone is predictable, they’re easy to control.
So how do you use this? First, stay calm. Never fight angry. The moment you lose control,
you hand over your advantage. But if you stay composed while the other person reacts
emotionally, you own the pace of the game. Imagine you’re in a negotiation, and the
other side wants to push you hard. They start raising their voice, interrupting, trying to
make you flinch. This is a test—they want you to be emotional, because emotion leads to mistakes.
If you take the bait and snap back, they win. But if you stay calm, let them vent, and respond in an
even tone, everything changes. They burn energy, you save energy. They speak more, you listen more.
And while they’re losing control, you’re thinking two steps ahead—deciding what to say next,
and when to close the deal on your terms. Say someone throws an insult at you,
hoping to get a reaction. If you fire back, you give them exactly what they want—a fight.
But if you smile slightly, stay calm, and reply with something neutral like, “I see what you’re
trying to do,” you flip the power completely. They wanted anger. They got control instead.
And nothing frustrates an emotional person more than someone who refuses to join their chaos.
Here’s where real skill comes in: sometimes you can use their emotions
to lead them where you want. If you know someone’s pride makes them overconfident,
let them believe they’ve already won. Give them a false sense of security—until they walk straight
into a position where you hold the advantage. Imagine you’re in a business deal. The other side
is proud and loves feeling like the smartest person in the room. They keep bragging about
how strong their position is and how easily they can walk away. Instead of challenging
that pride directly, you lean into it. You agree with them, make small concessions on things that
don’t really matter, and let them feel in control. This feeds their ego and lowers their guard. Then,
when the moment comes to finalize the agreement, you push for the one term that really matters to
you—because by now, they’re too confident and too invested to back out. They sign,
thinking they’ve dominated the deal, while you quietly walk away with what you wanted all along.
Emotions make people blind. Stay calm, and you see what they can’t. And when they’re too angry
or too proud to think straight, that’s when you move - carefully, not rashly.
7. Prepare for the Worst In our final quote from Sun Tzu for
this video, he says “Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated
warriors go to war first and then seek to win.” Sun Tzu believed battles were decided long
before the first move was made. Victory according to him came from preparation.
The generals who planned for every possibility, who expected surprises and had answers ready,
were the ones who walked away victorious. Outsmarting someone isn’t about just about
reacting well - it’s also about planning so well that you never need to scramble. When you prepare
for the worst, nothing catches you off guard. Suppose you’re about to have a serious
conversation with someone you care about. You know it could get emotional. If you walk in
hoping for the best, you’re setting yourself up to be thrown off when things go sideways. Instead,
you prepare: What will I do if they get angry? If they start crying? If they walk away? Maybe you
plan to pause, take a breath, and calmly say, “I understand you’re upset, and I want to hear
you.” Or if they shut down, you’re ready to say, “It’s okay, we can take a break and talk later.”
When you plan for these moments, you stay in control instead of being pulled into chaos.
People who don’t prepare rely on hope. People who prepare rely on
strategy—and strategy beats hope every time. So before any challenge, ask yourself:
What’s the worst that can happen here? And if it does, what’s my move? When you have those answers,
nothing rattles you, because you’ve already won before the game even begins.
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