9 Principles.pdf

THE NINE SUCCESS PRINCIPLES

OF JAPAN’S GREATEST

SWORDSMAN:

MUSASHI MIYAMOTO

Scott Sonnon:

The 9 Principles originate in two sources having different translations for

the same text. Miyamoto Musashi (c. 1584–1645), was a Japanese

swordsman famed for his duels and distinctive style. Musashi, as he is often

simply known, became legendary through his outstanding swordsmanship in

numerous duels, even from a very young age. He is the author of The Book

of Five Rings , a book on strategy, tactics, and philosophy that is still studied

today. I first received this book in University during an Asian philosophies

course. Little did I realize that this would have far reaching implications into

my martial art training.

What I learned from Martial Art: Teach only what you've embodied and

embody what you teach. I share these with you because these 9 principles

I’ve mastered (and mastery, in this context, means that when I need to do

them, I can do so with zero drag). There are certainly issues I’m still working

on. I’m not enlightened. But on these 9 issues, I’m fully awake, and ready to

kick ass when needed.

These principles won't make you enlightened either. You won't levitate from

mountains. You won't necessarily even be the most popular dude or dudette

on the nightclub scene. But these will 100% make you a successful

businessman or woman, make you the one people come to in a crisis or for

help, make you the person people turn to when they're unsure how to

proceed, make you feel personally ready to handle any shift, big or small,

that needs to happen in order for you to facilitate growth and development in

any aspect of your life.

These aren't elusive virtues that you spend a lifetime never mastering.

These are concrete lifestyle strategies which you can embody in less than 2

years and which will incrementally transform you into the man who others

admire, trust and respect. Admiration, trust and respect . These are the

cornerstones of success.

Principle

Do not think dishonestly.

Avoid Dishonesty. Speak the truth and do the right

thing.

Principle

The Way is in Training. Daily, diligent training.

Principle

Become acquainted with every art. Practice art.

Principle

Know the Ways of All professions. Develop

professionalism.

Principle

Distinguish between gain and loss in worldly matters

Principle

Develop Intuitive judgment and understanding of

everything. Trust your intuition.

Principle

Perceive those things that cannot be seen. See

behind the illusion.

Principle

Pay Attention even to little things. Study the details.

Principle

Do nothing which is of no use. Discard baggage.

Order clutter.

PRINCIPLE #1:

“DO NOT THINK DISHONESTLY”

Scott Sonnon:

Avoid Dishonesty. Speak your truth and make the right, hard choice.

Historically this was one of, if not the, most challenging of the principles for

me, because as a child my voice was squashed out through humiliation,

abuse and debasement. It was only through martial art and university

debate that I discovered the pure potency and cumulative power contained

within this first, and arguably most important principle.

It seems easy enough, right? Just be honest . Do the right thing. But in

practical application, full of foibles and flaws, insecurities, doubts,

desperations, it’s incredibly overwhelming. I’ll give you a personal example.

I was invited to be a guest at the US Marshals Academy (USMA) co-located

at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC). Jodie and I

decided before I left that no matter what happened, I would speak my truth...

even if it meant never being asked back and losing any potential contracts

in the process.

Now, you must understand that the USMA is the top, for nearly all of the

federal agencies look to the Marshals training as the best in the country, if

not the world. They pride themselves on being the most cutting edge. If I

landed a contract with the US Marshals, I could pretty much be certain,

there would be no end to contracts forthcoming (especially considering

there are 94 agencies represented at FLETC alone!)

So, when the time came, and of course it did, the Senior Supervisor asked

me my opinion, I said, “Are you sure you want to ask me this question,

because I’ve obligated myself to speak my truth even if it gets me kicked out

of here, lose any chance at a contract and never invited back again to

USMA or FLETC in general.” To his credit, he didn’t baulk. He even laughed

and said that few people have the balls to speak their minds.

I told him and the other trainers what I thought. Of course I sandwiched the

critique using the PCP approach, “Praise-Critique-Praise” in order to

insulate the criticism from the resistance of our ego. “I have to commend

you on the drill design, because it really helps the recruits identify their

weaknesses, which is that they digress into a cluster-f#$k rapidly under

stress. If we made these modifications to their strategies and tactics, they’ll

be significantly more efficient and effective at resolving the drill performance

that you so intelligently designed.”

They looked surprised enough to ask me to demonstrate what I meant.

They asked for sample drills as examples. Now, only half a year after that I

regularly receive contract offers, consultation requests, and even became a

certified instructor for FLETC! All from speaking my truth, and surrendering

any attachment to desperate desires...

Having the courage and conviction to make the difficult, right decision over

the easy, wrong decision sounds simple enough, but like in my example

above... it can be so compelling, even seductive to make the wrong decision

because it seems to be easier, shorter, or faster than making the right one.

When I began working with special operations and special purpose units in

the military and law enforcement, my teacher said to me, “Do not step to the

left or to the right; keep your honor in every decision even when it seems

that you will lose face.” Running a business where my life has become

mostly transparent, in order to truly lead from the front and never ask of a

student what I do not embrace myself, has also increased the presence and

power of Principle #1 in my life.

What may sound like a burden actually acts as a blessing. For living a life as

if someone is always watching helps you realize the accountability of your

actions and behavior. Of course, eventually you want to transcend doing (or

not doing) something because of the presumption that others are watching,

and simply do it because it’s the right thing, even when there’s no chance

that someone else is watching. But transparency, or external accountability,

is a first and critical step to teaching ourselves internal accountability, also

known as responsibility.

Sometimes you have to bite your lip; other times open your mouth. But it’s

never easy. That is what is meant by “God comforts the disturbed and

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