Recently, Petra Coach presented a webinar, “Principles of ‘The Way and The Power'” with Joseph Simms.
You can find the full recording here.
Top Takeaways
Introduction/Background
Source: The Way and the Power: Secrets of Japanese Strategy by Fredrick Lovret
Japanese culture was so fixated on the strategy of war it became almost an art form – mostly found in small familial teachings.
- To explain these small familial teachings, the Japanese codified them and the method to actualize that principle.
- The information contained within those traditions is applicable not only to warfare, but also to the nature of conflict, as well as strategy.
To realize something for yourself is the only way to move something from an “exercise” to an “action” you own.
There has always been information about the things that make us perform well. There is nothing new about training the human spirit – only old things rediscovered.
The act of listening exercises something that is fundamental for leadership: awareness and intention.
- This is very important for anyone who is in a leadership position.
- In the same way you can’t think yourself to a better body (you have to do the work), you cannot think your way to better listening – you must practice that humility.
Best definitely of mastery: the capability of doing simple things incredibly well.
About the Book
A lot of the information in “The Way and The Power,” if you read and apply, offers you immediate impact, but the potential is infinite. When we’re involved in some kind of leadership, we may look to the infinite, but it’s the immediate that leads to success.
The structure of this book is:
- Principles/Components/Ideas/Concepts behind what it takes to step forward into the unknown
- Strategy
- Introduction about the fundamental human problem and the structure that gives the opportunity to learn those things
- Structure is very important if you’re leading or mentoring anyone.
In the military, if you ask why someone does something when every cell in their body is saying no, they either say “I didn’t want to let my brothers down” or “I didn’t want to let the tradition down.”
- There is power in tradition
About the Author: Being the Example
The Author’s Life and why Knowledge of it is important to the reader
Author Fredrick Lovret wasn’t researching the information needed to write the book. It wasn’t academic. He was legitimately putting his mind and body to the test to find these answers.
- Served 15 years in the Navy
- Lived a “monk-like” life – his entire existence focused on his study, no family, no “normal job”
- He was extremely intense and attentive
- He was the example purely of what he would teach – there was no gap between what he said and what he did
- People look for those gaps in you too – if you say A and then do B, it lets them off the hook
- As leaders, it’s not just important that we do what we say, but that we are what we say, and Mr. Lovret was an “ARE.”
Learning is not about what you learn – it’s learning how to learn, and then you can take that skillset and apply it to anything.
Nature of the “Life Force” & Why Coaching is Important
“Life Force” is that very thing that is the difference between being dead and being alive – all living things have it from a plant to an ant to a human.
- Western World uses the word “soul” or “spirit”
Why is that important? It’s important because it’s critical for people who lead other people to understand the nature of this energy we all share.
The nature of the mind is comparable to water. If you pour water on the floor, it’s still water – but to put it in a useful form, you need to pour it into a structure.
At any moment, humans are potential energy – that potential energy is what’s intriguing for leaders, mentors, coaches, or anyone responsible for shaping humans.
- This is why we have structure, core values, rules
- They form the bedrock that provide the direction for potential energy
A coach can’t be just someone who’s learned about business – they must have executed on business.
When we start a business we have an idea of where we want to go/ what is important? Why don’t we do that with our lives?
When you’re looking back at the end of your life, money wont matter. The impact and your legacy will matter.
Strategy
At its highest level, strategy is not a plan or a goal. It’s the fundamental principles and techniques that will get you to the win. It’s a way of thinking.
- It’s so powerful because it saves resources dramatically.
- On the battlefield of life and business – strategy is all about winning.
- Strategy isn’t good or bad in its essence: it’s just a cause and an effect.
The Fishbowl Effect
Many people’s world view is that they’re the center of everything.
BUT imagine you’re in a fishbowl – anything you do in this fishbowl has an immediate effect you can see. (i.e. if I move a certain way, the water might push the wheel to turn or open the treasure chest)
We don’t have that in air – we don’t see the immediate impact, yet every single thing that we do has impact. You cannot throw a stone into water and it not ripple in some way.
View your world all as one – all together.
- When you’re a part of something that is greater than yourself, it starts to dissolve your ego, and for strategic thinking this is fundamental.
- To think strategically, you need to be able to look at things in an unbiased fashion.
Anyone can win once. What’re the things that create repeatable, measurable success to leave a legacy that matters?
Like what you see? Register for our upcoming workshops & webinars today!
