Sun Tzu wrote, The general who thoroughly understands the advantages that accompany variation of tactics knows how to handle his troops.

This is a call to adaptability. Sun Tzu is telling us that victory doesn’t belong to the rigid—it belongs to those who can pivot, shift, and change strategy when circumstances demand it. A general who insists on fighting every battle the same way, no matter the terrain, is doomed to fail. But a leader who can adapt—who can change tactics without losing sight of the mission—is unstoppable.

Think about your life. How often do you lock yourself into one way of doing things? One plan, one path, one method? And then when it doesn’t work, you declare defeat. But the truth is, your goal may still be absolutely possible—it’s just your tactics that need to evolve. Success isn’t always about charging straight ahead. Sometimes it’s about flanking, maneuvering, waiting, or trying a new approach altogether.

The greatest strength you can develop is flexibility in pursuit of your purpose. That doesn’t mean abandoning your mission. The mission stays the same—the destination is fixed. But the road there may twist, turn, and demand constant recalibration. If you insist on a straight line through mountains, rivers, and enemy fire, you’ll break yourself before you reach the goal. But if you’re willing to adjust—willing to try a different tactic—you’ll keep momentum and find a way through.

Your “troops” are your resources: your time, your energy, your habits, your allies. If you use them the same way in every situation, you’ll waste them. But if you understand variation—if you know when to push hard, when to retreat and regroup, when to strike boldly, when to wait patiently—you’ll get far more from what you have. That’s leadership. That’s wisdom.

Life is going to change on you. Conditions will shift. What worked yesterday may not work tomorrow. And here’s the truth: most people break not because they’re weak, but because they refuse to adapt. They cling to old methods. They keep hammering the same approach even when it’s no longer effective. They confuse stubbornness with strength. But strength is not rigidity—strength is resilience.

So ask yourself: where in your life do you need to vary your tactics? If your health plan isn’t working, do you need a new approach? If your business isn’t growing, do you need to pivot strategy? If your relationships feel stuck, do you need a new way of showing up, listening, or engaging? The mission doesn’t have to change—but your tactics might.

Remember: victory belongs to the adaptable. The general who knows how to shift, to innovate, to improvise—commands not just his troops, but the battle itself. And so it is with you. The terrain will change, but you must remain fluid, responsive, and relentless in pursuit of your mission.

So don’t cling to one tactic. Master variation. Adjust, evolve, and adapt—because the one who can shift without breaking will always find a way to win.

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