I Spent 10 Days with Elite Warriors & Discovered the Key to Unlimited Business Growth
Lessons in Resilience and Strategy from the Battlefield to Business
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Hi, sorry, been gone for a bit. And for a good reason. I took 10 days off. Not for a vacation (though people might think so), but to invest in myself. After studying the Korean martial art of Taekwondo for over 25 years and becoming a 4th dan black belt 🥋, I decided to fly to Korea and go to the Kukkiwon (the World Taekwondo Headquarters) to take the prestigious Kukkiwon master course and become a certified Kukkiwon master. This is the highest distinction a master can achieve, as it means (if successful) the master can transmit knowledge as an extension of the Kukkiwon itself.
Out of 200 million practitioners worldwide, only about 90,000 have achieved Kukkiwon master status 🌏. That’s about 0.04%. It’s a big deal. The Kukkiwon, which not only issues dan ranks but also serves as a physical training ground and research center, was built in 1972 to unify the different styles that emerged post-Japanese occupation. Every practitioner has heard of the place, but very few get to train there🏯.
Being surrounded by practitioners from 60 different nations 🌍, and by all kinds of Taekwondo superstars, was both surreal and inspiring. We were all under the same roof, getting the exact same class regardless of age or rank, repeating some of the same basic blocks we practiced for 20, 40, and sometimes 50 years!
I had won championships before 🏆 and was looked up to in the previous schools I studied and assisted. But here, sparring with the former Belgian champion without any protective gear, exchanging ideas with a 9th dan former Dutch 80’s Olympic player, listening to a high dan German national champion about his experience in the 90s, watching the guy who will be an international referee at the Olympics this month perform a perfect form with grace and dignity, now getting judged by old Korean masters, listening to all these other Korean masters who were all high dan themselves and significant contributors to the development of the art—I must say I felt like a complete beginner on day one of the course 🤯.
Some say Taekwondo is a competitive sport, but here, when it comes to the root of the art (Kukki meaning self-overcoming), it was truly an emulative and inspiring experience to see all these masters striving for perfection 🌟. This showed me how much more I need to learn. It reminded me of “shoshin” — the beginner’s mind (see below). Even masters are forever students. This applies to all areas of life. By keeping our minds open and questioning if what we’re doing is the right way, we consistently set ourselves on the path to perfection, to better ourselves and those around us 💪.
Here are 5 mental models drawn from traditional martial arts and Zen concepts that can help you improve as a marketer and entrepreneur:
Shoshin: Beginner's Mind
In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert's there are few — Shunryu Suzuki, Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind
Approach every situation with openness and eagerness to learn, regardless of your experience level. This mindset allows you to stay curious, question assumptions, and discover new opportunities that others might miss. As a marketer or entrepreneur, cultivating a beginner's mind helps you adapt to changing markets and consumer behaviors.
Kaizen: Continuous Improvement
This Japanese concept, while not exclusive to martial arts, is integral to many traditional practices. Strive for constant, incremental improvements in your skills and strategies. Like martial artists perfecting their techniques over decades, marketers and entrepreneurs should always seek to refine their craft. This mindset encourages innovation and helps you stay ahead of the competition.
Rei: respect and courtesy
Respect is a fundamental principle in many martial arts. In fact, we often say that martial arts start and end with respect — which is the true meaning of starting and ending the class by bowing to each other. In marketing, this can manifest as respecting customers' time and privacy, being ethical in advertising practices, and valuing the competition as it drives innovation and improvement.
Chowa: Balance
Many martial arts emphasize the importance of physical and mental balance. In marketing, often we focus too much on one aspect because of budget, business priorities, and/or other reasons. But to build a long-lasting brand and business, we should aim to maintain an equilibrium between different aspects of a campaign, such as balancing brand awareness with lead generation, or traditional and digital marketing methods.
Ju: Adaptability
In martial arts like Judo, the principle of adaptability or "softness" (Ju) teaches practitioners to yield to an opponent's force and redirect it. In marketing, this can translate to being agile and responsive to market changes and adapting strategies based on consumer feedback and trends.
Baekjul Boolgool: The Indomitable Spirit
This is a core tenet of Taekwondo that embodies unwavering determination and courage. It empowers practitioners to face challenges with confidence, pushing beyond limits and refusing to be defeated by fear. This mindset fosters resilience, allowing individuals to rise after setbacks and pursue their goals relentlessly. Everyone makes mistakes, and that’s how we grow. All our campaigns won’t be perfect. The indomitable spirit is about always finding a way.
By incorporating these mindsets and mental models into your professional life, you can cultivate a growth-oriented approach that will help you excel as both a marketer, as an entrepreneur, and as a person!
Inspired by the legendary samurai strategy guide by Miyamoto Musashi, I am working on The Five Rings of Marketing. In it, I draw parallels between this timeless battle-tested guide and modern marketing mindsets to achieve market supremacy.
⚡Connect⚡
You can connect with me on LinkedIn (let me know in the “note” when you add me you come from here) or in the Substack chat if you are a fellow Substacker.
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