The Samurai, the elite Japanese swordsmen, had a very specific code that they lived by called the Bushidō . There was a saying about what was important when training to be a Samurai; Zen 7 and Ken 3. Zen is spirit and Ken is sword.

It means that 70% of your training needs to happen on the inside and 30% on the outside. That is, 70% is about spirit, character, and 30% is about technique. I’d wager if you would ask any Japanese businessman today which they would prefer, a rock solid fiery spirit, or a new management technique, they will take the first. Yet, think about the type of training that you often receive in business today; how is it weighted?

Person: ?

Technique: ?

Person first, technique second.

Pierre