Sun Tzu wrote of creating a ‘death ground’ — a place where an army is backed up against some geographical feature like a mountain, a river, or a forest and has no escape route.

Sun Tzu wrote of creating a ‘death ground’ — a place where an army is backed up against some geographical feature like a mountain, a river, or a forest and has no escape route.

Without a way to retreat an army fights with double or triple the spirit it would have on open terrain, because death is viscerally present. Sun Tzu advocated deliberately stationing soldiers on death ground to give them the desperate edge that makes men fight like the devil.

It’s time for you to create your death ground.

Yes, back yourself into a mountain, in fact, back yourself into a mountain full of dry trees and light that mountain on fire. This way you have no choice but to advance.

At first you can admire the great spectacle that is the flames. But as it grows you will begin to feel the heat. The flames rise and you are left with a choice.

Do I stand here and die or do I fight my way through the other side?

We all are on a slow path to death. Grim isn’t it? Your slowly dying…

It’s either you choose to place your back against the wall or you choose to live a life that does push you to your outer limits.

People change their behavior only if they have too.

We are creatures of habit. We get into the daily grind. When our situation is relaxed or our we repeat the same motions every single day we fall prey to this self replicating nonsense.

If you want to change you must create a sense of urgency, immediate urgency will break this spell.

Act Before You Are Ready

One of the best ways to put your back against the wall is to take action before you are ready. This doesn’t mean to just go and jump off a cliff with out a safety net–but sometimes acting rash will payoff.

Most successful people have the ability to execute a strategy or execute when they feel it in their gut. A general rule when creating  your death ground is to act before you think you are ready.

When you do this you will find that will be more resourceful in your efforts and under pressure your creativity will flourish.

What To Do Now

Take some time right now to do a little planning around what can propel yourself or your business to the next level. Think this through a little then ask yourself…

What can I do that creates my own personal Death Ground?

Then cross the Rubicon.