26. Now the general who wins a battle makes many calculations in his temple ere the battle is fought. The general who loses a battle makes but few calculations beforehand. Thus do many calculations lead to victory, and few calculations to defeat: how much more no calculation at all! It is by attention to this point that I can foresee who is likely to win or lose.

夫未戰而廟算勝者得算多也未戰而廟算不勝者得算少也多算勝少算不勝而況於無算乎吾以此觀之勝負見矣.

Sun Tzu

Sun Tzu’s statement is emphasizing the importance of careful planning and strategy in the pursuit of victory. He is suggesting that a successful general will carefully consider all of the potential outcomes and make detailed plans before entering into battle. In contrast, a general who is likely to lose will not take the time to carefully plan and will simply rush into battle without considering the potential consequences. Sun Tzu is saying that thorough planning can lead to victory, while a lack of planning will likely lead to defeat. He also suggests that the level of planning and strategizing can be used to predict the likely outcome of a battle.

Successful businesses carefully plan and consider all potential outcomes before making a major decision, while those likely to fail do not take the time to plan and make rash decisions. Thorough planning leads to success, while a lack of planning leads to failure.

Just as a successful general will carefully consider all of the potential outcomes and make detailed plans before entering into battle, a successful leader in a business setting will take the time to carefully plan and strategize before making major decisions. This could include analyzing market trends, researching competitors, and considering potential risks and opportunities. By taking the time to thoroughly plan and strategize, a business leader can increase the likelihood of success and minimize the potential for failure. On the other hand, a lack of planning and a tendency to make rash decisions without considering the potential consequences can lead to failure in a business setting.

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