Swordsmanship and Business Acumen

Interestingly, "the age of the great Japanese swordsmen coincided with that country’s transition from a loose group of warrior states to a stable nation." This quote inside the book jacket of The Sword and the Mind appealed to my curiosity. So I dipped into this book to learn more.

The Sword and the Mind focuses on using strategy as a means to overcome opponents. Strategy depends on using the mind well.

Consider, for instance, The Mind that Tarries,

Suppose you see in a glace a sword coming at you and decide to block it with your own. Then your mind stays with the sword and, neglecting your own moves, you allow the opponent to slash you. This is called the mind that tarries.

Suppose you do see the opponent’s sword come, but do not allow your mind to stay with it. Suppose, instead, that in response to the coming sword, you do not think of striking back or form any idea or judgment, but the moment you see the sword raised you move in, your mind not tarrying, and grasp the sword. Then you should be able to wrest from the opponent the sword intended to slash you, and turn it into one with which to slash him…

The mind that tarries is called maya [illusion, ignorance].

Real opposition grows within our minds depending on our focus. Swords that come our way might be within our own organization or even within you or me, not just with competitors.

What is thrust your way today? For instance, is it lack of funds, ineffective managers, government guidelines, failed marketing campaign? Circumstances can control you or you can control circumstances. One way to counter swords is to ask, “what if...” rather than, ‘if only...” Perspective and grasping a sword without tarrying makes a difference.

How would you grasp a sword coming at you, without tarrying, and turn it around? Thoughts?