163: Business Lessons Straight From The Karate Dojo

<p>I have often thought there are so many lessons from the martial arts for our businesses.  Here are my musings after 50 years of training in traditional Shitoryu Karate.</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Stepping on to the floor</strong></p> <p>The dojo is the ultimate equalizer.  Whether you arrived by chauffeur driven Roller or took Shanks’s mare, once you step on to that dojo floor only your ability and character separates you from everyone else.  You have had all of your wealth, privileges, educational background, society status, connections stripped away and you are left alone to rise or fall based on your own abilities.</p> <p> </p> <p>In business, we forget this primary lesson and allow people to accrue titles, status and power unattributed to their abilities.  We need to see beyond the spin and politics and ensure that people’s real abilities are recognized and rewarded.</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Starting</strong></p> <p>The class begins with a short meditation interval.  This is designed to focus the mind and separate the day from what is to come.  Next everyone is bowing toward the front.  The front of the class represents all who came before us.  We are not here today based solely on what we have done. Others were here before us building the art and the organization.  By bowing we acknowledge the continuum and our responsibility to keep it going.  Now we bow to the teachers, respecting their knowledge and their devotion.  Finally, we bow to each other expressing our solidarity as fellow travelers on a journey of self-discovery.</p> <p> </p> <p>How do we start the work day?  Is there a chorei or morning gathering of the work group, to get everyone aligned and focused on the WHY we are there.  In our office we review one of the Dale Carnegie Principles each day.  We then share our scheduled meetings, our highest goals for the day, end with a motivational quote and a final rousing call to all do our best (<em>ganbarimashoo</em>!).</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Stretching</strong></p> <p>We warm