Stanley F. Bronstein – Personal Development BlogPersonal Development Blog of the Founder of the Achievement IQ Movement and Creator of the Laws of Positioning

CHAPTER 13 – Employing Spies – Part 1 of 1

Definitions

Employ / Employing – To make use of (an instrument, means, etc.); use; apply.

Spy / Spies – A person who keeps close and secret watch on the actions and words of another or others.  A person who seeks to obtain confidential information about the activities, plans, methods, etc., of an organization or person, esp. one who is employed for this purpose by a competitor.  To observe secretively or furtively.

Previous Posts On The Art of War

While each one of these posts is designed to be read separately and independently of each other, it would be useful if you read the previous posts on The Art of War, all of which can be found by clicking here, if you have not already done so.

More From Sun Tzu

And so the means by which an enlightened sovereign and  a wise general act, and so are victorious over others and achieve merit superior to the multitude’s — THIS IS FOREKNOWLEDGE.

Foreknowledge cannot be grasped from ghosts and spirits; Cannot be inferred from events;  Cannot be projected from calculation.  It must be grasped from people’s knowledge.

What Do These Quotes Mean?

It means that in order to succeed; one must do their homework in advance.

One must understand the situation in complete detail.

To do that, one must gain foreknowledge.  To do that, one must employ spies who keep a close eye on one’s opponent, ALL THE TIME.

More From Sun Tzu

And so there are five kinds of spy to employ.

There is the native spy, the inner spy, the turned spy, the dead spy and the living spy.

The living spy returns and reports.

Employ the native spy from among the local people.

Employ the inner spy from among their officials.

Employ the turned spy from among enemy spies.

The dead spy spreads false information abroad.

How Can This Advice Be Applied?

While The Art of War was written in a military context, the above advice applies in countless real life situations.

In any given situation, it is useful to know, IN ADVANCE, what your opponent is doing.  Such knowledge increases your chances of success.

Sun Tzu lists 5 types of spies.  All are advantageous, except for the dead spy, who is in effect spreading false information to you.

Recommended Reading

Laws of Positioning #14 – Position Yourself To Be Conscious

Conclusion

I hope you have enjoyed this series on The Art of War. We will begin moving on to other subjects as of tomorrow.

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