Sun Tzu wrote, Camp in high places, facing the sun. Do not climb heights in order to fight. So much for mountain warfare.

On the surface, it’s simple terrain advice: pick strong ground, keep the advantage, don’t burn yourself out fighting uphill. But underneath, it’s a masterclass in living with intention, conserving energy, and choosing battles that give you leverage instead of draining your strength.

High places represent perspective. From the heights, you see more. You see what’s coming. You see the moves of the enemy. You have time to think, to plan, to strike on your terms. Life is no different. If you’re stuck in the weeds, reacting to everything, fighting uphill every day, you’ll exhaust yourself without ever getting ahead. But if you climb — strategically — to where you can see clearly, you gain power. The key is this: you climb for position, not for battle.

That’s the second layer of Sun Tzu’s wisdom: don’t climb heights in order to fight. Don’t take the hardest possible path just to prove you’re tough. There’s no honor in unnecessary suffering. You’re not here to impress; you’re here to win. And winning requires energy, clarity, timing — all of which are wasted if you decide to fight where the terrain is against you.

This is how so many of us burn out. We take on battles that don’t move us closer to the mission. We pick fights out of pride, out of impulse, out of the need to show we can. But strength is not about fighting everywhere — it’s about fighting where it matters, when it matters, on ground that favors you.

Facing the sun — there’s meaning there, too. It’s orientation. It’s a reminder to face toward clarity, light, and morale. Sunlight steadies soldiers, warms them, lifts their spirits. For us, it’s about facing toward what energizes us, what keeps our vision sharp and our hearts alive. If everything you face drains you, darkens you, pulls you into cynicism or despair, you’ve turned away from the sun. And that’s a leadership hazard, whether you’re leading a team, a business, a family, or yourself.

So here’s your mission from this ancient war wisdom:

Find the high ground — not as a place to suffer, but as a place to see. Step out of the fog. Get perspective. Pull yourself out of the emotional lowlands and find the ridge where you can breathe and think again.

Face the sun — keep your focus on what strengthens you, inspires you, aligns with your mission. Don’t stare into shadows all day and expect to stay sharp.

And for the love of your mission, stop climbing just to fight. Stop burning calories on proving points that don’t matter. Conserve your energy for the battles that change everything.

You are not here to flail. You’re here to win. Choose the ground. Choose the light. Fight when and where it makes sense — and let the rest pass like clouds over the mountain.

That’s strategy. That’s how leaders endure. That’s how you rise and stay standing.

Email us at [email protected]