Salt Marshes
Sun Tzu said, “ In crossing salt-marshes, your sole concern should be to get over them quickly, without any delay. If forced to fight in a salt-marsh, you should have water and grass near you, and get your back to a clump of trees. So much for operations in salt-marches.”
Sun Tzu always says to avoid difficult terrain. Wet ground brings disease and disadvantage. In business, if you must go through difficult ground you should do it quickly. For example, setting up a new factory is difficult ground. You should do it quickly. It is not a time to compete.
If for some reason, a competitor notices your weakness and comes headstrong at you, you should have a backup plan. Sun Tzu say to get to a clump of trees. The trees will provide cover and a way of escape. The business on difficult ground should have cash on hand to buffer them at these times. They should also have a plan that will allow them to compete at inopportune times.
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