Strategery

The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry

“Strategery” was a mock Bush-ism used on Saturday Night Live to satirize George W. Bush. The word is meant as an ironic reference to a not-so-well thought out strategy.

Though made up, “strategery” stuck – Bush later jokingly said he coined the term, not SNL.

How strategic are you about your life? Or does your life fall into the category of ”strategery?” Meaning that you have some general, superficial ideas about life, but no strategy.

The Art of War teaches us that any problem can be viewed in terms of war. We have enemies, allies, and weapons at our disposal. But how are we going to use them?

Why we act and why we do is our strategy.

Tactics answers the question: How?

Strategy answers the question: Why?

EMBRACING STRATEGY

Politics and war go hand-in-hand

Any country goes to war for political reasons. In the USA we tend to separate civilians and the military. But political governance is connected to military action. Politics set the purpose and the military is one tool our country uses for action.

Strategy = purpose-driven action

Logically then, purpose determines action. How can we know what to do unless we know our overarching purpose? Admittedly, purpose for life can be difficult to nail down. Our lives are influx and not always black and white. If you feel a bit perplexed in defining a purpose for your life, then start with a theme or overall characteristic that you want to embody. Maybe compassion, empathy, love, patience, inner strength, etc.

This theme becomes your purpose and dictates your action. Now you have a strategy — something to guide your actions. Albeit it’s a simple strategy, but it’s a start. With some regular self-reflection you can develop and expand this theme. Now, with a strategy at hand you become a commander not only a foot-soldier.

A strategy sets you up for victory rather than prideful pursuits. In The Art of War, Sun Tzu says:

Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win

Fighting a battle without a clear purpose is sure disaster. Even if the battle is “won”, what’s the purpose?

Prepare and know what you’re fighting for. Know yourself first and foremost. Strength comes from the inside not from accomplishments. You may achieve a lot and receive admiration, but if you strive to accomplish things mainly for other’s approval then you’re weak not strong. We all know the greatest struggle is within us. And any external struggle faced reveals your true nature and character. You may not like your reflection, but you have to face it and “know yourself.”

If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.”

― Sun Tzu, The Art of War

Ask yourself:

• What controls you, emotions, approval of others, being in control, appearances?
• What are your greatest strengths?
• Who are your allies?

And no matter our strengths, great tactics are worthless without a strategy.

Tactics win battles, strategies win wars

Although warfare has changed immeasurably over the course of human
history, the classics of strategic thought endure. From…ancient Greece to the Special Forces and UAVs in today’s Afghanistan, strategy has remained a question of using the means at our disposal to compel an enemy to bend to our political will. — Andrew Wilson, U.S. Naval College