故兵貴勝不貴久
Sun Tzu
In this verse, Sun Tzu emphasized the importance of achieving victory in warfare as quickly and efficiently as possible. He believed that lengthy campaigns were not only costly in terms of resources and lives, but also risky because they gave the enemy time to regroup and counterattack. Therefore, he advised military leaders to focus on achieving victory through decisive and swift action, rather than prolonging the conflict through long and drawn-out campaigns.
In business, the ultimate goal should be success, not simply staying busy.
Success in business is typically measured by a combination of factors, including financial performance, customer satisfaction, and the achievement of long-term goals. By focusing on success, businesses are able to prioritize their efforts and allocate resources in a way that is likely to lead to the best outcomes. In contrast, simply keeping busy without a clear sense of what success looks like can lead to inefficiency and a lack of direction.
As business leaders, it is easy to fall into the trap of being constantly busy without taking the time to step back and assess whether or not our efforts are leading us closer to our goals. We may get caught up in the day-to-day tasks and activities that are necessary to keep the business running, but that do not necessarily contribute to long-term success. In these situations, it is important to take a step back and reassess our priorities, focusing on the things that will truly drive success for the business. This may mean setting aside time to evaluate and refine our goals, and to develop strategies and tactics that will help us achieve them. By focusing on success, rather than simply keeping busy, we can ensure that our efforts are always directed towards the things that matter most.