The Art of War for Small Business

By: Becky Sheetz-Runkle

Narrated by: Karen Saltus

Length: 4 hrs and 54 mins

Publisher's Summary

Sun Tzu's ancient The Art of War has inspired military, political, and business leaders across the world with its brilliant strategies for prevailing against opponents. At the core of this classic treatise is the message that sledgehammer approaches can backfire, and size alone does not guarantee wins. Strategy, positioning, planning, leadership - all play equally significant roles, making Sun Tzu's teachings perfect for small business owners and entrepreneurs entrenched in fierce competition for customers, market share, talent - for their very survival. The Art of War for Small Business is the first book to apply Sun Tzu's wisdom to the small business arena. Featuring inspiring examples of entrepreneurial success, the book's 12 timeless lessons reveal how to:

• Choose the right ground for your battles
• Prepare without falling prey to paralysis
• Leverage strengths while overcoming limitations
• Strike competitors' weakest points and seize every opportunity
• Focus priorities and resources on conquering key challenges
• Go where the enemy is not
• Build and leverage strategic alliances

Big companies may deploy overwhelming forces, but small companies can outsmart, outmaneuver, and out-strategize larger adversaries to capture crucial sectors, serve unmet needs, and emerge victorious.

©2014 Becky Sheetz-Runkle (P)2014 Gildan Media LLC

An actually useful high-level strategy guide

Where does The Art of War for Small Business rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Does a nice job of interpreting the obtuse & contradictory writings of Sun Tzu -- "Move like the wind, but be immovable as the mountain" -- into an actually useful high-level strategy guide for business and even life in general. Masterfully read by Karen Saltus, who has the best pipes in the business".

2 people found this helpful

tho I gave this 5's here's what I think

if you've read 1 you've read them all
this is useful but things I knew

1 person found this helpful

Ruined by Narration

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

Better choice of narrator.

What could Becky Sheetz-Runkle have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Structured it a bit better. The anecdotes felt haphazardly thrown in here and there, and repeated / referred back to, every now and then.I may get the kindle version instead.

How could the performance have been better?

The author should have read it herself. Karen Saltus can ruin any audiobook. She's a better fit for speaking infomercials and alike. There's zero passion in her voice.

Any additional comments?

Most of the advice is very common-sensical. I.e. treat your employees well, understand your competition, etc etc.

Just because a book (The Art of Way by Sun Tzu) was written many years ago in a difficult to grasp/decipher tone, does it mean that it's especially wise. If the advice in this book is what can be extracted from The Art of War – it's a sign (to me at least) that it's overrated.

3 people found this helpful