Applying the 36 Stratagems in a business context can be a fascinating exercise in strategic thinking. Here’s a brief guide on how to use some of these stratagems in various business scenarios:

Using the 36 Stratagems for Business Success

Chapter 1: Winning Stratagems

1. Deceive the heavens to cross the ocean: In business, this could mean keeping your true intentions hidden. For example, quietly developing a new product while maintaining a focus on existing products to avoid alerting competitors.
2. Besiege Wei to rescue Zhao: Divert a competitor’s attention by creating a problem elsewhere. For example, launching a price war in a non-core market to force competitors to allocate resources there.
3. Kill with a borrowed knife: Use a third party to accomplish your goals. For instance, leverage influencers or industry experts to endorse your product, thereby gaining credibility without direct promotion.
4. Wait at leisure while the enemy labors: Let competitors exhaust their resources on risky ventures while you maintain stability and capitalize on their mistakes.
5. Loot a burning house: Take advantage of a competitor’s misfortune. If a competitor is struggling with a scandal, seize the opportunity to capture their market share.
6. Make a sound in the east, then strike in the west: Create a diversion. Announce a new product or service in one area to distract competitors while you focus on another strategic move.

Chapter 2: Enemy Dealing Stratagems

7. Create something from nothing: Hype up a product feature or benefit to create market buzz, even if it’s a minor enhancement. This can attract attention and build anticipation.
8. Openly repair the gallery roads, but sneak through the passage of Chencang: Make your intentions appear obvious and straightforward while secretly planning a different strategic move.
9. Observe the fire from the other side of the river: Stay neutral during a competitor’s conflict or industry shake-up, then step in to offer solutions once the dust settles.
10. Hide a knife behind a smile: Maintain friendly relationships with competitors while discreetly working on plans to outmaneuver them.
11. Sacrifice the plum tree to preserve the peach tree: Make small concessions or sacrifices to protect more valuable assets or strategic positions.
12. Take the opportunity to pilfer a goat: Seize every opportunity for small gains, such as acquiring minor patents, technologies, or talents that can contribute to long-term success.

Chapter 3: Attacking Stratagems

13. Beat the grass to startle the snake: Provoke a reaction from competitors to gauge their intentions or weaknesses.
14. Raise a corpse from the dead: Revive a discontinued product or old strategy that may be relevant again due to market trends or technological advancements.
15. Lure the tiger out of the mountain: Draw competitors out of their strong positions by offering tempting opportunities or challenges.
16. Let the enemy’s own spy sow discord in the enemy camp: Use misinformation to create confusion and mistrust among competitors.
17. Inflict injury on oneself to win the enemy’s trust: Show vulnerability or admit to minor flaws to gain trust and make competitors lower their guard.
18. Chain the enemy with golden shackles: Offer attractive partnerships or incentives that ultimately bind competitors to your terms.

Chapter 4: Confusion Stratagems

19. Remove the firewood from under the pot: Undermine competitors by cutting off their resources or supply chains.
20. Disturb the water and catch a fish: Create confusion in the market to capitalize on unexpected opportunities.
21. Slough off the cicada’s golden shell: Change your business model or strategy while maintaining the appearance of continuity.
22. Shut the door to catch the thief: Isolate a competitor’s key asset or market segment to weaken their overall position.
23. Befriend distant states while attacking nearby ones: Form alliances with companies that are not direct competitors to strengthen your position against those that are.
24. Borrow a road to conquer Guo: Use the resources or infrastructure of another company to achieve your own goals.

Chapter 5: Gaining Ground Stratagems

25. Replace the beams with rotten timbers: Sabotage competitors from within by influencing key personnel or systems.
26. Point at the mulberry tree while cursing the locust tree: Criticize a minor issue to address a more significant problem indirectly.
27. Feign madness but keep your balance: Act unpredictably to throw competitors off balance while staying focused on your objectives.
28. Remove the ladder after the enemy ascends to the roof: Trap competitors by cutting off their escape routes after they’ve committed to a risky venture.
29. Deck the tree with false blossoms: Create the illusion of success or innovation to attract attention and investment.
30. Make the host and the guest exchange places: Turn a disadvantageous situation into an advantageous one by reversing roles or strategies.

Chapter 6: Desperate Stratagems

31. The beauty trap (Honeypot): Use attractive offers or incentives to distract and lure competitors into compromising positions.
32. The empty fort strategy: Bluff strength or confidence when in a vulnerable position to deter competitors from attacking.
33. Let the enemy’s own spy sow discord in the enemy camp: Use misinformation to create internal strife among competitors.
34. Inflict injury on oneself to win the enemy’s trust: Fake injury or hardship to gain the enemy’s confidence.
35. Chain the enemy with golden shackles: Win over an enemy by offering them attractive but ultimately binding incentives.
36. If all else fails, retreat: When in a losing situation, it’s wise to withdraw and reconsider.

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