Sun Tzu quotes can typically be more easily understood in the context of warfare, but may seem vague or even irrelevant to us in peaceful times. However, his wisdom is universal.

Think — opportunity is defined as a situation or condition favorable for attainment of a goal. It is vague by the definition and is shaped according to time and place.

And “Multiply” is a strong statement. This means that the new opportunities which did not exist before, come into existence, appear out of thin air as the result of establishing success on two or more occasions. Only two or more items can be multiplied. One success is not enough. One success could be only due to luck. Two in a row is a sequence, which creates inertia. That’s what we’re seeking. We cannot see beyond the first two successes. The opportunities beyond the first two are unseen and unknown - they have not appeared as a function of the multiplication yet. 

Our job is to focus on just that - knowing and seeing the opportunities and focus on the first two or three. The new successes are not guaranteed. Not every new opportunity can be taken advantage of, or even worth the risk, but the Law is the Law - an appropriate or favorable time or occasion will appear again and again as one succeeds at taking advantage of the situation favorable to attainment of one’s goal.

In order to see the New (Unseen and Yet-Unknown) Opportunities in your life and business, the advice from Sun Tzu’s formula could be summarized as such: a) identify two or more opportunities;  b) take action in direction of attaining those positions; c) obtain some form of a positive outcome on two or more consecutive occasions; d) rinse and repeat.