4. Thus, what enables the wise sovereign and the good general to strike and conquer, and achieve things beyond the reach of ordinary men, is foreknowledge.

故明君賢將所以動而勝人成功出於衆者先知也

Sun Tzu

The key to success in warfare (and by extension, other endeavors) is having “foreknowledge,” or advanced knowledge and understanding of the situation at hand. Sun Tzu suggests that this enables wise leaders and skilled generals to achieve remarkable feats and conquer their enemies, surpassing the capabilities of ordinary people. Essentially, Sun Tzu is saying that knowledge and understanding are powerful tools that can give you an advantage in any situation.

What enables the exceptional business leader to have continued successes, and achieve results out of the reach of other leaders, is foreknowledge.

In the business world, having foreknowledge – or advance knowledge or understanding of something before it happens – can give leaders a significant advantage. By accessing and carefully analyzing this information, leaders can make informed decisions that allow them to anticipate and prepare for potential challenges or opportunities. This can give them a competitive edge in the market and help them achieve their goals. Having foreknowledge can also enable leaders to make strategic decisions that position their company for success, such as developing new products or services that meet the needs of emerging markets, or investing in technology that will enable them to take advantage of new opportunities. Overall, the ability to access and analyze relevant data is a key factor in the success of business leaders, and can give them an advantage over competitors who do not have the same level of information.

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