“There are not more than five musical notes,
yet the combinations 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),
yet in combination they produce more hues than can ever be seen.
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.
In battle, there are not more than two methods of attack—the direct and the indirect;
yet these two in combination give rise to an endless series of maneuvers.
[…]
The skillful general conducts his army just as though he were leading a single man, willy-nilly, by the hand and able to handle a whole army as though you had to do with but a single man.
The clever combatant looks to the effect of combined energy, and does not require too much from individuals. Hence his ability to pick out the right men and utilize combined energy.
Thus the energy developed by good fighting men is as the momentum of a round stone rolled down a mountain thousands of feet in height.
So much on the subject of energy.”
- Sun Tzu THE ART OF WAR
Right men. Good “fighting men”.
It’s what the W team consists of.
Highly qualified, trained, and motivated women and men, ready for the front stage, but just as vital behind the curtains.
So much on the subject of energy.
This is a tribute to the W team.
People often ask me: Where the f**k did you find this team?
“To lift an autumn hair is no sign of great strength;
to see the sun and moon is no sign of sharp sight;
to hear the noise of thunder is no sign of a quick ear.”
- Sun Tzu THE ART OF WAR
Instinct. Criteria. Willy-nilly by the hand in all fights.
I need to share this success with my team—from bottom to top. And if business ever goes sideways,and the wind blows strong enough to take it all away, the responsibility will fall on the leader—left with empty hands.
But thank you.
For following my lead.
For not breaking in the gusts of wind, even when bending.
I need to share this success with all of you who appreciate and honor the W path.
Not the only path.
But definitely a unique one.
The Art of War is about preparing yourself and your army for the impact of Murphy’s Law. Because, as Edward A. Murphy Jr. said:
“Anything that can go wrong will go wrong.”
Inevitably, at some point, it will go wrong.
The only way out is to be well-prepared to fight.
This is our Art of War.
The White team’s art.
-GF