When you cannot win, when you are cornered, when your situation becomes untenable - retreat is not just an option, it is often the wisest strategy. This final stratagem acknowledges that sometimes the best victory is knowing when not to fight. Retreat allows you to: • Preserve your resources and strength • Reassess the situation from safety • Live to fight another day • Avoid total defeat Retreat is not cowardice - it is strategic wisdom. The general who knows when to withdraw often achieves greater victories than one who fights to the bitter end. In business, this might mean: - Exiting a failing market - Withdrawing from unprofitable ventures - Stepping back from negotiations - Changing course when strategy isn't working Remember: He who fights and runs away, lives to fight another day. Sometimes the most courageous act is knowing when to stop.