To those who engaged with my last post, I noticed a fair share of downvotes. While this doesn’t particularly concern me, what does is the value we provide to our customers. I’m not here to control your perspective or force a change, but I do want to raise some questions and ideas.

Do you want to build lasting customer relationships? A reputation that stretches beyond your local town, city, or even country? Because the way many businesses operate today is, frankly, short-sighted. The strategies are not only inconsiderate but ultimately non-beneficial to anyone seeking long-term success.

What do I mean by this?

Imagine the battlefield. The dust rises as swords clash, armies push forward, and victory is within sight—but at what cost? Many salespeople and business leaders are fighting for the quick win. They charge into battle with the sole goal of taking the nearest hill, claiming short-term profit. A hill may be taken, but what of the enemy? You know nothing of their strength, nothing of their tactics, and you leave the field unprepared for the greater war to come.

This approach is reckless. You may win that skirmish, but you lose something much greater: the insight needed to secure lasting victory. The short-term gain blinds you to the larger campaign, to the territories that could be conquered if only you took the time to understand your opponent.

How does this relate to business?

In this analogy, your customers are the battlefield. Charging in for a quick sale without taking the time to know their needs, their motivations, or their concerns is like rushing into battle without a plan. You may secure a sale, but you miss the bigger picture—the loyalty, the trust, and the continued patronage that come from truly understanding those you serve.

A tactician worth their salt doesn’t fight for one hill—they fight to dominate the entire field. They observe, they learn, and they adapt. In the same way, a skilled businessperson must take the time to know their customers, not just as buyers, but as individuals. Every customer is a new encounter, an opportunity to refine your strategy and strengthen your position. By treating each interaction as a step in a larger campaign, you prepare yourself for more than just a single victory—you prepare for the long war.

Now let’s talk about the Long Game.

The long game in battle is never about brute force or a singular, reckless charge. It’s about patience, precision, and foresight. The battlefield is vast, the enemies many, and each movement must be carefully calculated. You don’t simply rush in to take ground; you lay traps, scout the terrain, and find ways to turn the enemy’s strength into their downfall. You build alliances, learn from your scouts, and turn every minor skirmish into a lesson for the next encounter.

In business, this long game is just as essential. You must know the terrain—the market. You must study your adversary—the competition. But more than that, you must understand the people who will ultimately decide the outcome of the war—your customers. You don’t just sell to them. You learn their habits, their needs, and their desires. You become a trusted ally, not just a vendor. This is how you win not just one sale, but every sale that follows.

In a well-fought war, the general who listens to the whispers of his scouts and the murmurs of his soldiers is the one who triumphs. This is how you should treat your customer base: as scouts and soldiers in your long-term strategy. By understanding them deeply, you don’t just sell them a product; you become part of their journey. And when that happens, they don’t just buy from you—they return, time and time again. And they bring others with them.

So which path do you choose: the reckless charge or the calculated campaign?

Will you continue to rush into battle with no plan beyond the immediate gain, or will you rise to the level of a true tactician, guiding your business with foresight and wisdom? You could continue on the short path, fighting skirmishes and chasing momentary profit. Or you could fight for something greater: a reputation that spans continents, customer loyalty that endures for generations, and a business that thrives, not just for a season, but for a lifetime.

The choice is yours. But remember: True victory belongs to those who see beyond the immediate fight. The future belongs to those who understand the battlefield and its players—and who are willing to play the long game.

Informal note: I just recently studied The Art of War by Sun Tzu, complementing the tactical insights I’ve gained from studying Meng Tian for quite some time. If you happen to disagree with any of this, I encourage open communication. Only downvoting helps neither of us.