Taking Ownership

We’re refining our Chinese New Year lion dance and our banquet demo bit by bit, week by week. With less than four weeks until the new year, we’ve entered crunch time. Part of the appeal of this time of year for me is that there never is enough time. I’m always left with the feeling that if we had an extra fourteen days we could really pull off something extraordinary. Yet I know that if I had another fourteen days the demo and dance would get that much more ambitious and two weeks would no longer be enough. It is my nature to push limits.

Pushing my limits requires a mindset that narrows my focus and increases my efficiency if I am going to succeed. Give me too much time and I will pursue multiple options. I may work just as hard and make progress on multiple fronts, but I will never complete the project. The thing about mastery is that it is a relentless state of pursuit. My ultimate goals continue to evolve as I myself evolve. There is no end to my mastery journey. When one trail becomes familiar and defined, another more interesting path appears. Setting a deadline keeps me on the path I have set to achieve my immediate goal. Without a deadline my immediate goal would just become one of many interests that hold my attention at any given time. It is in my nature to pursue shiny objects.

Being of the nature to push limits and pursue shiny objects, achieving success is always a challenge. Success is all about bringing a project to fruition. I recognize that any chance of success is affected by my ability to take consistent action. Lucky for me it is in my nature to take ownership.

Taking ownership means I have intent behind my actions. No effort is without mindful presence. I am constantly measuring my progress and adjusting my strategy to improve the return on my efforts.

Taking ownership means I recognize the value I bring to a project. When I am part of a team, I recognize that the value I bring to the team is only present if I am present. I recognize every absence, every substandard effort, and every wasted moment will set the project back.

Taking ownership means I leave nothing to chance and take complete responsibility for all outcomes.

“Man is condemned to be free; because once thrown into the world, he is responsible for everything he does. It is up to you to give [life] a meaning.” - Jean-Paul Sartre (1905 - 1980)

Beginnings

2014 was a very interesting year for me that brought many challenges. When things get hectic it is easy to lose track of where I am and what I am doing. Frantic coping can easily become the norm if I don’t keep to my mindfulness basics. I try to begin anew everyday but after the crazy year I just experienced, I am looking forward to Chinese New Year to really clear the slate.

I love Chinese New Year. My sense of family and community is never greater than it is at this time of year. It is definitely a time to remember the awesome people I am surrounded with and the privilege I enjoy, all because of kung fu.

“Remember tonight … for it is the beginning of always.” - Dante Alighieri (1265 - 1321)

Responsibility

As a black belt I feel a tremendous sense of responsibility to the rank. I am reminded of the difference between achieving a black belt and holding a black belt.

It is said that less than one percent of martial arts participants go on to achieve a legitimate black belt. It is not that earning a black belt is physically hard, even though it is, the problem is that there is a lack of self discipline in most of us. Earning a black belt requires relentless commitment.

What constitutes a legitimate black belt? That point is something that very few will ever agree upon. Back in the day a black belt meant that you had a solid grasp of the basics of a recognized system and had your skill verified and endorsed by a master level instructor. Now you can get a black without even having a system, just a hodgepodge of techniques. There are even first degree black belts giving out black belts themselves.

Why do I bring this up yet again? Because if you cannot define a legitimate black belt, how can you define the difference between earning a black belt and holding a black belt? If less than one percent go on to earn a black belt, I would estimate that less than ten percent of those go on to hold their black belt. In order to hold your black belt, you need to continue to do everything you did to earn the black belt. I know of very few who hold a black belt in multiple styles. There are many who have earned black belts in multiple styles but holding a black belt in multiple styles - very few.

It comes down to whether the practitioner defines the black belt or if the black belt defines the practitioner. For the sake of the future of the martial arts, I would hope it is the former.

“Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough: we must do.” - Bruce Lee (1940 - 1973)

Stress of Hope

Sometimes when a bad situation gets so out of hand that you just have to walk away, the stress release that comes from giving up can be surprising. The more hope you have in solving the situation, the more you personally invest in the resolution. The more you personally invest, the more you have at stake if you fail. The more at stake, the greater the stress. It is at times like this that it is important to recognize the difference between the stress from effort and the stress generated by helplessness.

There is little wonder why so many don’t even bother trying in the first place. Everyone recognizes the macro stress that comes from trying to solve a bad situation. Few recognize the micro stress that comes from accepting a bad situation. It is easy to forget that stress is cumulative.

Mastery is a difficult pursuit but the stress of the journey is only a fraction of the stress that comes from accepting mediocrity.

“To achieve great things, two things are needed: a plan and not quite enough time.” - Leonard Bernstein (1918 - 1990)