Book excerpt: Supplying you with a firm grasp of the roots of strategy, How to Outthink, Outmaneuver, and Outperform Your Competitors: Lessons from the Masters of Strategy explains how to develop the skills and strategies needed to compete in today’s volatile marketplace. It interweaves the classic works of the masters of strategy, such as Sun Tzu, Carl von Clausewitz, Mao Tse-tung, Niccolo Machiavelli, Frederick the Great, Napoleon, and other renowned strategists. The collective insights of these legendary strategists span 2,500 of combative history and have survived meticulous analysis by scholars. Applied to current competitive business conditions, their time-tested rules and guidelines will prepare you to deal with such issues as: preventing competitors from disrupting your overall growth plans, protecting yourself from a rival’s take-over strategies, and strengthening long-term customer relationships. Whether you operate as a multinational firm maneuvering for position in a global arena, or a regional business fighting an everyday battle for survival, the foundational principles provided can reinforce your understanding and practice of strategy. The book defines the historical origins of strategy and supplies timeless insight into how successful leaders have implemented comprehensive strategy plans. It also explains how to: Maneuver out of risky competitive situations and into renewed market opportunities Establish a defensible position in a hotly-contested market Apply competitive business techniques to outperform your rivals Align competitive strategies with your organization’s culture Personalize a leadership style to maximize performance from your staff The book includes three special features: Strategy Diagnostic Tool—A structured system to help you assess your firm’s competitiveness before committing valuable resources. Appraising Internal and External Conditions—A comprehensive checklist to analyze those key factors that can determine the success of your business plan. Strategy Action Plan—A tested format that includes step-by-step guidelines to develop a personalized business plan. The lessons gleaned from military history and strategy can be indispensable in the everyday management of your people and resources. By tapping into the universal logic and historic lessons of strategy, you will fortify your ability to think like a master strategist and add greater precision to your decision-making—thereby allowing you to outthink, outmaneuver, and outperform your competition.