Ashby's Law of Requisite Variety states that "variety absorbs variety, defines the minimum number of states necessary for a controller to control a system of a given number of states."[1]
The gist of this law is that in order to master any problem or process we have to be able to bring more variety to bear than is inherent in the situation. In combat that means being capable of using attacks in a greater variety of ways than your opponent. Further, by restricting the amount of variety that the opponent can use (by adopting strategy) the chance of victory can be enhanced.
When applying Ashby's law to non-combat situations the same principle applies. To succeed requires either: a) continually learning, incorporating new ideas and concepts to enhance variety and perspective; and/or b) simplifying the problem or process, so gaining the edge in the variety stakes by reducing the complexity of the problem. Et voila, two fundamentals of impact packaged in a cool-sounding law. Continual learning is a common factor in so many credible theories, from Mihály Csíkszentmihályi's principles of flow [2] to Peter Senge's ideas on organizational learning [3]. Martial arts are based on the idea of learning over a lifetime; no one has mastered everything, there is always so much more to discover. Similarly, a continual focus on simplicity in everything we do, reducing complexity to a minimum, helps retain the edge over the challenges that confront us.
Ashby's law provides a framework for success, building variety through constant movement, creativity and learning, while simplifying the challenges to the extent possible. Try it - use variety to make an impact!
References
1. Introduction to Cybernetics, W. Ross Ashby (see: http://pespmc1.vub.ac.be/ASHBBOOK.html)
2. See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flow_(psychology)
3. See: http://www.solonline.org/?home
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