Here are 3 quotes, the most interesting thing I learned this week, 1 essay, and 1 question to reflect on.
3 Quotes
“Devotion to the study of one’s path – first acquiring the fundamentals, and then continuing to refine your knowledge and skills – is a lifelong pursuit with no end.” – Yamamoto Tsunetomo, Hagakure, Book 1
“I cannot give you a map, but I can give you a compass.” – Seth Godin
“See to it that you temper yourself with one thousand days of practice, and refine yourself with ten thousand days of training. You should investigate this thoroughly.” – Miyamoto Musashi, The Book of Five Rings
The Most Interesting Thing I Learned this Week
The word circadian was never really used before 1959. It was coined by Franz Halberg.
“Circadian” was derived from the Latin circa (about) and dies (day); it refers to a natural rhythm that repeats roughly every 24 hours.
It can be hard to get into a rhythm when you are traveling. But good morning routines, start with good night time routines. There are rhythms to our day that we must respect and work hard to maintain.
The prepared warrior
Training is not just something you do. Training is a way of life. It is a way to prepare. It is a foundation for everything else in your work.
“There is a disparity in the military tactics and strategy (gungaku) demonstrated by men who are prepared, and those who are not. The prepared warrior is not only able to solve problems in a quick and commendable fashion by virtue of his life experience, but he can react appropriately through his comprehension of measures to meet any scenario. He is always ready.” Yamamoto Tsunetomo, Hagakure
The agōgē was the training ground for turning Spartan boys into Spartan warriors. The word agōgē had various meanings in Ancient Greek and comes from the verb ἄγω (to lead). According to Plutarch, the main purpose of the agōgē was for the boys to undergo intense physical trials to prepare their bodies for the harshness of war. Train hard, fight easy.
What would your ancient relatives say about you today? Are you putting in the work to train hard to make work and the challenges easier to deal with? Preparation at work starts with preparing your mind and your body. Making hard choices to eat a healthy lunch. Take a break. Go for a walk. Create the space and dare I say silence to think.
The boys in the agōgē were split into different cohorts that varied in age, from 7 to 14, then 15-19 and finally 20-29. Experience, size, age, wisdom, strength matter. But experience without reflection misses out on the compounding effects of getting better with time.
“The unprepared warrior lacks foresight, and even if he succeeds in solving a problem, it is merely through good fortune rather than good planning. A warrior who doesn’t think things through beforehand will be ill-equipped.” Yamamoto Tsunetomo, Hagakure
We get caught in the race. The race to do more. The race to get finished. The race to move on. But what are we racing for? Preparation starts at home. It starts with good habits. It starts with learning to make better decisions. It starts with creatively solving problems. It starts with really experiencing and living life to the max.
1 Question to Reflect on
Are you the prepare warrior or do you find yourself unprepared? Either way, you can do something today, not to train more and make yourself more prepared.
The Real Con 93