As astute entrepreneurs have noted upon over the years, there are many comparable lessons that can be translated from the world of martial arts to that of business and sales.
Success in business and continued training in martial arts both require constant growth and a willingness to learn. Those who find themselves unable to face their weaknesses and challenge themselves beyond their comfort zones simply cannot apply the multitude of lessons that accompany such action.
Today I’d like to share some of the lessons that have really been on my mind as I’ve pursued my journey in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
-Learning to be comfortable in uncomfortable situations
If you have spent time in BJJ then you likely know the experience of having someone larger than you smashing your face into the mats as they attempt to crank your arm to an unnatural angle.
Sounds great, right?
Even though you struggle to breathe and the pain in your joint is mounting you still want to WIN.
In order to win you have to stay calm in a situation where others might panic. Despite the pain, the sweat in your eyes and the lack of oxygen you need to stay cool and think up an effective escape. You need to be aware of your situation and act decisively, not like a wounded animal scrabbling about maddened with pain.
How does this translate to the world of making money and producing results?
The arena of entrepreneurship is fraught unexpected challenges and moments where you just want to throw in the towel and call it a day.
Jiu Jitsu will mentally toughen you to a point where challenges that might disturb a normal person barely seem to affect your demeanor. The waves of chaos in this hectic world can threaten to drown those that find themselves unprepared. Once a person learns to become COMFORTABLE IN UNCOMFORTABLE SITUATIONS they can ride those chaotic waves to their objectives with dexterity and aplomb.
-The White Belt Mentality
The lowest belt rank in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is the White belt. This is when a brand new rookie joins the fun and starts getting their mind blown by the possibilities.
A White belt must be willing and eager to learn at all times. As a White belt you will be defeated time and time again and you will need to be able to absorb lessons even during your most brutal losses.
As an entrepreneur you must constantly grow or begin to wither and perish. The White belt phase in the BJJ journey is when you learn to discard your ego and eagerly take in any possible lesson that could lend you even the slightest advantage in future encounters.
Stay an eager student no matter how advanced you become.
-Don’t tap to position
There are those days where you just want to throw in the towel. Tough sales where you feel tempted to just walk out in the middle negotiations. Sales and entrepreneurship can be a path lined with challenging situations. Learning to stay in the fight when you feel down and out is a powerful asset to be gained to from Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
“Tapping to position” means to surrender before the fight should have been over. This occurs when someone is placed in an uncomfortable position, begins to panic and gives up even before a submission is locked on them.
There is subtle power in learning to habitually fight even when things seem to be going against you. Stay in the fight you and will surprise yourself at times.
-Grow your confidence and shrink your ego
You will be smashed. You will be grinded into the mats. You will get beat by small, seemingly harmless fellas. Older guys will apply brutal technique and crush you seconds into your match.
This experience serves to break the ego down so that genuine confidence can its place.
Having a degree of grit in your spine built in the arena of martial arts translates to the realm of entrepreneurship. Building that confidence can shield you from a sense of nervousness or anxiety when out in the field looking to produce results. Having faith in your own strength and experience is a valuable asset.
-Pushing your limits
You’re out making cold calls and just feeling burnt out from a rough day of getting shut down. You’re feeling knocked around by the day and considering just calling it and taking the remainder off.
That is the exact moment you need to conjure your ability to push beyond your own perceived limits, dig deep and produce those results.
Jiu Jitsu will push you to your limits and your training partners will help you to extend your limits beyond what you thought possible. Just when you think you can’t go any further is precisely when you NEED to go further
These musings are but a handful of the benefits Brazilian Jiu Jitsu brings to the table of Entrepreneurship.
Sharpen yourself and see increased results in the arena of life.
Don’t tap to position!
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