Shi

/ʃi/ noun

Definition

In Chinese philosophy and martial arts, the concept of strategic advantage, positioning, or the power and momentum that comes from proper alignment and timing.

Etymology

From Chinese 勢 (shì) or 時 (shí) depending on context. The term comes from ancient Chinese military and philosophical texts. 'Shi' is difficult to translate precisely into English as it encompasses ideas of position, timing, momentum, and circumstance combined.

Kelly Says

In Sun Tzu's famous military text 'The Art of War,' 'shi' is presented as more important than strategy itself—it's about creating conditions so dominant that victory becomes inevitable. Modern business leaders still study this concept because it's about leverage and positioning rather than brute force!

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