A Step Forward for Beidou, China’s Satellite Navigation System – NYTimes.com
Ninth of #ThirtySixStratagems: Watch the fire on the other side of the river. 隔岸观火 (隔岸觀火) – Gé’ànguānhuǒ.
Mini strategy series @soerenbax: The #ThirtySixStratagems, a collection of ancient Chinese military thought and experience.
Characters of the ninth of Thirty-Six Stratagems: 隔岸观火 (隔岸觀火) – Gé’ànguānhuǒ. 隔, gé: Partition, apart. 岸, àn: shore. 观, guān: look, observe. 火, huǒ: fire.
Meaning: Watch the fire on the other side of the river. Watch the internal or external conflicts of the opponent from the sidelines and refrain from interfering. Let the trouble continue until your opponent is weakened and you have a better opportunity to gain the upper hand.
Business example: In business and war it can be advisable to wait an see, it is a powerful choice to be patient and wait for a better opportunity to act.
Eighth of #ThirtySixStratagems: Crossing in the dark to get to Chencang. 暗渡陈仓 (暗渡陳倉) – Àndùchéncāng.
Mini strategy series @soerenbax: The #ThirtySixStratagems, a collection of ancient Chinese military thought and experience.
Characters of the Eighth of Thirty-Six Stratagems: 暗渡陈仓 (暗渡陳倉) – Àndùchéncāng. 暗, Àn: dark. 渡, dù: cross. 陈, chén. 仓, cāng. 陈仓, chéncāng: Chencang, today it would be in Shaanxi province, Baoji City
Meaning: Crossing in the dark to get to Chencang.
Business example: Openly prepare to take a certain path while secretly advancing along an other. Fake left, move right. Attack from an unexpected place or direction.
A successful application of this stratagem could be to start negotiating to cooperate with a competitor while preparing to replace their product with a new innovation.
Seventh of #ThirtySixStratagems: Create something out of nothing. 无中生有 (無中生有) – Wúzhōngshēngyǒu.
Mini strategy series @soerenbax: The #ThirtySixStratagems, a collection of ancient Chinese military thought and experience.
Characters of the seventh of Thirty-Six Stratagems: 无中生有 (無中生有) – Wúzhōngshēngyǒu. 无, wú: noting, naught. 中, zhōng: middle, center. 生, shēng: life. 有, yǒu: to be, exist.
Meaning: Create something out of nothing.
Business example: One application of this tactic could be to create new suppliers to your portfolio. If negotiations with existing suppliers are difficult but quality and cooperation is good, then it may be advisable to find trusted companies that also could enter the bidding and supply goods.This new competition would help with price negotiation and will be a good source of information about the existing supplier.
IMF Primary Commodity Prices – interesting
China: Steel price continue to decline, iron ore price slides to five year low
国内钢价跌幅扩大 铁矿石价格创近5年新低
China: August exports grew 9.2%, trade surplus reaches new high
8月我国出口额同比增长9.2% 贸易顺差再创新高
China’s property conundrum. | The Oslo Times
Sixth of #ThirtySixStratagems: Making noise in the east and attack from west. 声东击西 (聲東擊西) – Shēngdōngjīxī.
Mini strategy series @soerenbax: The #ThirtySixStratagems, a collection of ancient Chinese military thought and experience.
Characters of the sixth of Thirty-Six Stratagems: 声东击西 (聲東擊西) – Shēngdōngjīxī. 声, shēn: sound. 东, dōng: East. 击, jī: strike, attack. 西, xī: West.
Meaning: Making noise in the east and attack from west. Create Diversions.
Business example: Create an distraction or false attack. The opponent will concentrate its defences accordingly on one front, making him vulnerable for your attack where he least anticipates an attack.
For example in sales for insurance policies, the sales person would emphasize the high (predicted, not guaranteed) yield, but not mention the ruinous upfront fees and hidden costs.