(Part one) Killing with a borrowed knife
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Wiseman: "If you want to do something,
                 make your opponent do it for you".

Borrowing a knife to kill means making use of others' resources for one's own gain--meaning that, if you can cause someone else to do a difficult job for you, it will certainly save yourself a great deal of trouble.

The king of Zhen (722 - 481 B.C) employed the "Killing with a borrowed knife" strategy to pave the way for an invasion of state of *Kuai.

King of Zhen first prepared a list of names of wise officials and brave generals of *Kuai with description of rewards they would receive should *Kuai fall.

The king of Zhen then secretly made sure that the spies from the king of *Kuai got to know of the hidden list.

The king *Kuai manage to obtain the list and suspect those on it of plotting against him and executed every one of them. Shortly thereafter, the king of Zhen conquered *Kuai.


Questions to Ponder?
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Have we learned anything from the "Wiseman" today?
Can we apply it to our daily business or personal lives?

Borrowing a knife to kill may seem too devious; fundamentally, it is adapting to new circumstances or making use of other's resources for your own gain and sometime without your opponents knowing it or aware of the opportunity you have created for others to exploit.

Here is a classic example of applying “Borrowing a knife to kill” in today’s modern society;

Microsoft recently *announced that it will terminate support for their seven-year-old Exchange 5.5 software and IBM took advantage of it by introducing a better replacement multiple OS platform (Domino’s) product with a 30% discount.

*May 17 2004, Asia Computer Weekly
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Until the next issue....
Have a Grrrreat Day!

Best Wishes


 

Minute Wisdom

The Naked Card - Star Date 2020
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Operator: Thank you for calling Sizza Hut.
Customer: Hi, I'd like to order...

Operator: May I have your NIDN first, sir?
Customer: My National ID Number? Yeah, hold on, er... it's 210704758-23-9102460."

Operator: Thank you, Mr. Billygate. I see you live at 13531 Midland Drive, phone number's 001-223-7896, office number at Best Insurance Inc. is 222-3894-123 and cell phone is 6783-20198. You are now calling from home.
Customer: Huh? Where d'ya get all this information?

Operator: We're wired into the computer system, sir.
Customer: (Sighs)--Oh, well, I'd like to order a couple of your All-Beef Special Sizza.

Operator: I don't think that's a good idea for you, sir.
Customer: Whaddya mean?

Operator: Sir, your medical records indicate that you've got high blood pressure and extremely high cholesterol. And your National Health Service provider does not allow such an unhealthy choice.
Customer: Shi#*%... What do you recommend?

Operator: Try our low-fat Soybean tofu Sizza, you'll love it.
Customer: What makes you think I'd like something like that?

Operator: Well, you checked out "Gourmet Soybean Recipes" from your local library last week, sir. That's why I made the suggestion.
Customer: All right, all right. Give me two family-sized ones,
and what's the damage?

Operator: That should be plenty for you, your wife and your four kids, sir. The "damage" as you put it, comes to $69.99
Customer: Lemme give you my credit card number.

Operator: I'm sorry sir, I'm afraid you'll have to pay in cash. Your credit card balance is over its limit.
Customer: I'll run over to the ATM and get some cash before your delivery gets here.

Operator: That won't work either, your checking account's
overdrawn, sir.
Customer: Never mind. Just send the sizzas. I'll have the cash
ready, how long will it take?

Operator: We're running a little behind, sir. It'll be about 45
minutes, sir. If you're in a hurry you might want to pick'em up
while you're out getting the cash, but carrying sizzas on your
motorcycle can be a little awkward.
Customer: How do you know I'm riding a bike?

Operator: My screen info says here that you're in arrears on
your car payments and got repo'ed. But your Harley's paid up and you'd be using it.
Customer: @#%/$@&?#!

Operator: Please be reminded to watch your language, sir. You've already got a 20April conviction for cussing out a cop.
Customer: (Speechless)

Operator: Will there be anything else, sir?
Customer: No, nothing. Oh, yeah, don't forget the two free
liters of Fizz's your ad says I get with the sizzas.

Operator: I'm sorry sir, but our ad's exclusionary clause
does not allow us to offer free soda to diabetics.
 

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Copyright notice - The original "The Naked Card" by; Terrence Victor Smith available at www.mycen.com.my/duasen/
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