54. When a warlike prince attacks a powerful state, his generalship shows itself in preventing the concentration of the enemy’s forces. He overawes his opponents, and their allies are prevented from joining against him.

夫霸王之兵伐大國則其衆不得聚威加於敵則其交不得合

Sun Tzu

A skilled military leader should focus on preventing the enemy from bringing all of their forces to bear against them. This can be achieved through various means, such as intimidating the enemy and preventing their allies from joining them.

The idea behind this strategy is that if the enemy is unable to concentrate their forces, they will be at a disadvantage in any conflict. This is because they will be unable to bring all of their resources to bear at once, which will allow the warlike prince to defeat them more easily. Sun Tzu believed that a good military leader should focus on disrupting the enemy’s plans and preventing them from organizing their forces effectively.

When a skilled business leader confronts a powerful rival, their strategic acumen is demonstrated through the prevention of the consolidation of the competitor's resources. They intimidate their opponents and prevent their allies from joining forces against them.

A skilled business leader should focus on disrupting the plans and resources of their rivals, rather than simply reacting to their actions. By preventing their opponents from consolidating their resources and allies, the business leader can gain an advantage in the competitive market. By effectively preventing the concentration of their competitors’ resources they can create a competitive advantage for their own company, and increase their chances of success in the market.

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