David Brown on The Art of Business Wars | 7

In 'Think Again', Adam Grant argues that the ability to rethink at personal, interpersonal, and collective levels is crucial in today's polarized world. He uses scientific research, personal anecdotes, and engaging stories to illustrate how people can find joy in being wrong, leverage the benefits of impostor syndrome, and cultivate environments of lifelong learning. Grant emphasizes the need to challenge our convictions, adopt a scientific mindset, and foster curiosity and humility. He provides examples of individuals who have successfully rethought their approaches, from firefighters to business leaders, and offers practical exercises for improving rethinking skills.

Blue Ocean Strategy challenges traditional competitive strategies by advocating for the creation of new, uncontested market spaces. The authors, W. Chan Kim and Renée Mauborgne, argue that companies should focus on innovation to create 'blue oceans' of new demand, rather than competing in 'red oceans' of existing markets. The book provides a systematic approach and tools for successfully formulating and executing blue ocean strategies, including the strategy canvas and the six principles of blue ocean strategy. It highlights successful examples such as Cirque du Soleil and low-cost airlines, and offers guidance on overcoming organizational hurdles and aligning value, profit, and people propositions.

This book, based on the *Business Wars* podcast, uses the insights of Chinese military strategist Sun Tzu to frame some of the biggest business rivalries in history. David Brown chronicles the rise of companies, their strategies, and how they adapted to societal changes to stay ahead of the competition. The book draws valuable lessons about determination, ingenuity, patience, grit, and subtlety from these business wars, making it invaluable for both freelancers and CEOs of multinational companies.