The Art of War - Be Humble

The restaurant where I am currently attached to was expanding. The owners were opening more restaurants elsewhere. So they added some new position to help oversee different sections of the restaurants as a group. Hoping that this move will improve operations. These people were supposed to work closely with the individual restaurant's operation team. One such position was to oversee the entire Food and Beverage Operations of the restaurants. They got a guy with a number of years experience and have said that he have worked overseas. So the owners felt that with all this experience, he was a valuable asset. The F&B Operations Manager came on board and started throwing his weight around saying this and that was wrong. He went around acting that he knew everything and we were all useless. He was the big boss and everyone must respect and worship him. He constantly reminded us that he was going to improve our services as we were all not good. He should have read Sun Tzu's Art of War. Chapter 8 has a verse on the five dangerous faults that may affect a General that is

"There are five dangerous faults which may affect a general (4) a delicacy of honor which is sensitive to shame" Chapter 8 Verse 12.

As for me, I just kept quiet and relaxed. These types of people think they know everything; therefore they won't listen to other people's ideas. It’s like what Sun Tzu said about attacking walled city. I didn't say anything. I used Chapter 5 verse as a guide.

"Hiding order beneath the cloak of disorder is simply a question of subdivision, concealing courage under a show of timidity presupposes a fund of latent energy, masking strength with weakness is to be effected by tactical dispositions" Chapter 5 verse 18.

Being all high and mighty, he didn't want to listen to us. He was just giving out ideas to the owners without studying terrain. His ideas for promotions were geared to high income customers but the customers in our area were all middle income. When we told him that some of his ideas were too far fetched, he just brushed it aside by saying that we didn’t know much.

That was 4 months ago, nowadays he look lost. As the restaurants is ready but the food and beverage is not. Even the equipment and staff haven't arrived. He can't ask us for help as his loose face with the owners as he has belittled us to the owners. So what Sun Tzu meant is like all religions say “BE HUMBLE”

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SunTzu - Getting Even with Out Fighting
CHAPTER 1 : Verse 20. Hold out baits to entice the enemy. Feign disorder, and crush him. Verse 21. If he is secure at all points, be prepared for him. If he is in superior strength, evade him. Verse 22. If your opponent is of choleric temper, seek to irritate him. Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant. Verse 23. If he is taking his ease, give him no rest. If his forces are united, separate them. Verse 24. Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected. Verse 25. These military devices, leading to victory, must not be divulged beforehand.
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