GOLF Like a BLACK BELT: Golf and the Samurai Sword

Jim Golf CartoonI took my first golf lesson this week. What a blast- thanks to the wonderful pro at Mere Creek Golf Course, Kevin Johnson!

I immediately saw the connection between practicing golf and practicing the Japanese art of the sword.

Hope this helps my fellow golfers! (Can I officially say I’m a golfer after only one week? Alex did get me a set of clubs!)

“Simple- not easy.”

Everything you do with a sword is dependent upon one simple technique- your ability to make a clean, precise cut.

To that end, practitioners of kenjutsu, kendo and iaido do thousands of repetitions of just the cutting motion, or even of simply drawing the sword so you can make a cut.

Sound like your first day on the driving range? I only hit one bucket of balls, but it sure felt like thousands…and it sure feels like I’ll need thousands more before I perfect my swing…

Which leads to my next thought:

“Perfection is not a destination- it’s a never-ending process!”

Back on the range yesterday…

I drew back my club- exactly the way my instructor showed me…head over ball, relax, breathe…smooth downward stroke…turn, follow the ball…

…beautiful drive! This is really fun!

Set up again…

Something doesn’t feel right…as I swing I know I’m trying too hard…slice!

Set up again…

I hear a noise behind me and I lose my focus…I lean in and phlumph! I tear up about six inches of grass from the range…the grass travels farther than the ball!

Set up again…

Pow! Finally…another good one! I just enjoy watching the ball float down the range and settle near the target.

In everything you do, perfection is not a set point in time and space. Just as there is no “perfect” cut, only the practice to perfect the cut; I’m learning quickly that there won’t be any “perfect” drive…just the drive to perfect my drive!

Works in real life and business too!

Businessman with Samurai sword 250wNo Mind…or overcoming Too Many Minds!

There’s a great scene in the movie The Last Samurai with Tom Cruise…

Cruise plays Nathan Algren, an Civil War hero turned mercenary who is in Japan to quell the last of the Samurai resistance to modern culture and rule. Algren is captured by a Samurai leader and is being held prisoner of sorts in their village.

His captors are extremely hospitable, giving Algren free range of the village. They even allow him to train with the other warriors- which is where he runs into trouble!

As they train with their wooden swords, bokken, Algren quickly finds himself completely outmatched.

Nobunata, son of the warlord Katsumoto, takes a shine to Algren. After seeing him whacked over the head for several matches in a row- he steps in…

“Too many minds,” he tutors Algren.

“You mind the sword. You mind your opponent. You mind the people watching…

“No mind.”

Back to the range…

I mind the other people on the range-

I mind what an idiot I must look like to the seasoned players-

I mind the ball whizzing by my head from the golfer next to me who is even worse than I am-

I mind the pro who just stopped by to check on me and see if I’m sticking to his plan…

Too many minds!

I can see that just as with the sword, the trick is what the Japanese call Mushin: “no mind;” This means a clear head, free from distractions and engaged fully in the present moment.

I wonder how the other golfers will react if I show up with my sword in my bag to remind me to keep “no mind!?”

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Join us for a fun day of golf and at the same time help develop the next generation of successful business people at the Young Entrepreneurs Academy!

Sponsored by the Southern Midcoast Maine Chamber, the Young Entrepreneurs Academy just graduated it’s first class of 3 young world beaters who each launched a successful, operating business venture!

We want to expand this amazing program and you can help!

  • Register and play with us on June 13th at Bath Golf
  • Become a sponsor
  • Donate in ANY amount…every dollar helps!

Additional revenues will support college scholarships for area high school seniors!

Be sure to stop by for some refreshment and meet TEAM BLACK BELT!

Click here for complete details!

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AND…Marketing Your Mastery 1/2 Day Boot Camp

Coming to Freeport, Maine…May 29th!

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May 10, 2013
Categories: Events, Inspiration & Motivation, Personal Growth, Philosophy . Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Author: jimbouchard . Comments: 4 Comments

What Glass Ceiling? Celebrating the Unique Challenges and Opportunities of Entrepreneurial Women!

Some of the amazing women at a recent THINK Like a BLACK BELT for the Entrepreneurial Woman event!

Some of the amazing women at a recent THINK Like a BLACK BELT for the Entrepreneurial Woman event!

I was just responding to some comments on a LinkedIn discussion about the continuing disparity between women’s wages compared to men.

The discussion reminded me of one of the most inspirational women I ever met, Captain Julie Clark. She shattered the “glass ceiling” at 35,000 feet becoming the first female captain at a major American airline.

Anyway, as we prepare for our upcoming THINK Like a BLACK BELT for the Entrepreneurial Woman events, I was inspired to jump into the fray and share Julie’s story.

I don’t have time to get permission to use the other comments on the thread, so I’ll paraphrase those comments and add my responses below…

This first comment was in response to posts regarding a recent report on the “Wage Gap” between women and men…

That’s exactly what we’re trying to change with THINK Like a BLACK BELT for the Entrepreneurial Woman…

…Our next event is in Freeport, Maine on May 16th.

You’ll network with other women entrepreneurs, discuss ways to deal with your unique challenges and most of all- talk about how to improve and expand opportunities for entrepreneurial women.

Since I’ve started doing this program I’ve done extensive research on the “wage gap,” and largely, it is exactly that…a wage gap.

To be blunt, the most consistent reason for this widely publicized disparity is simply that women who are employed tend to choose jobs that pay less, but fulfill other desires, particularly service in social areas.

The woman entrepreneur is free to set her own financial goals and determine her own rewards. NO LIMITS…and we Celebrate Adversity as an opportunity to become stronger, more focused and more determined to succeed.

That’s our focus in this event!

Hope to see you there!

Linda Ridell, obviously a powerful entrepreneurial woman, added:

“As a female entrepreneur, I am responsible for what I get paid. Women who are employed have somewhat less choice in the matter, though they could refuse to settle for lower wages.

“Overall, women are probably less confident to demand more money. Or, as Jim says, women choose lower paying work anyway.”

I replied…

Both confidence and fear of appearing too “aggressive” to male counterparts and employers are often talked about in our groups.

Our world famous women's t-shirt! "Celebrate Adversity...It's your opportunity to become the person you may never have imagined without it!"

Our world famous women’s t-shirt! “Celebrate Adversity…It’s your opportunity to become the person you may never have imagined without it!”

There are ways to overcome both challenges. As I say above, we “Celebrate Adversity.”

Every challenge is an opportunity to grow, develop and expand your potential.

Here’s a great story…Julie Clark was the first woman to earn the rank of Captain on a major American airline. Now she’s one of the country’s leading aerobatic pilot.

Talk about shattering the glass ceiling, she did it at 35,000 feet!

Julie faced enormous challenges in her life including losing both her parents at an early age. Her father was a pilot who was killed in the first terrorist hijacking in American airspace that caused a crash.

In her airline career, she faced one of the most entrenched “Old Boys Club” in any industry…and she kicked it in the tail!

I’m proud to call her a friend and she’s a great inspiration to me!

Here’s an interview I did with Julie when I was hosting an aviation show:

Be sure to listen to her story about arriving at one job where there was NO door on the women’s restroom…and what she did about it!!!

Join us in Freeport, Maine on May 16th to network with other women entrepreneurs, discuss challenges and solutions, enjoy some nice mimosas and of course, learn how to THINK Like a BLACK BELT!

Click here for details and early registration!

THINK WE Freeport 130516 460

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AND…Marketing Your Mastery 1/2 Day Boot Camp

Coming to Freeport, Maine…May 29th!

Click here to SAVE 50% with Early Registration!

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May 8, 2013
Categories: Business Life, Events, Family Life, Inspiration & Motivation, Personal Growth, Philosophy, Relationships, Self-Esteem & Confidence . Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Author: jimbouchard . Comments: Leave a Comment

Become the Master of YOU: Embrace the Process of Perfection

First, let’s define authentic Mastery…

The mind of the true Master is really “Beginner’s Mind.” An authentic Master is a always looking for new challenges and new opportunities for learning, growth and development.

The “paper” master is happy earning a certificate.

Genuine Mastery is an ongoing process.

To embrace that process you’ve got to start each new day with a sense of wonder and curiosity.

It also helps to preserve a healthy disdain for satisfaction!

“There is never too much- there is only not enough!” ~Big Night

True! At least when it comes to expanding your knowledge, experience and awareness- the essential ingredients in authentic wisdom. Never be satisfied with the status quo.

Success- even survival today depends on your ability to change, adapt and grow. It depends on your ongoing commitment to Mastery.

Business LeaderMastery isn’t reserved for the elite.

Everyone can…everyone should become a master. Become the Master of you.

This means dedicating yourself to the process of perfection of some focused skill, talent or ability. If you want to make a living out of it, or build a business, pick something other people will care about enough to pay you for it…a marketable skill.

That’s how you create value in the world. People need or want something, they seek out the Master. If you want the best pizza, you seek out the Master pizza chef. If you need open heart surgery, you seek out the Master surgeon.

Dedicate yourself to Mastery and you become the “go-to” expert. You become the person others seek out when they need or want something.

One quick word on “the best.”Mastery is not about competition.

Mastery is not about being THE best, it’s about being YOUR best.

Focus on developing your talents, knowledge and skills…constantly. End each day better than when you started.

Charles Schwab, the financial pioneer, was once asked about his competition. He said he had no idea what his competition was doing and he didn’t care. He was too focused on what he had to do to provide the best service to his customers to worry about the competition.

You don’t become a Master by looking over your shoulder- you become a Master by looking ahead.

Look ahead to what you can learn and do today. Let your competitor look over his shoulder…at you!

You work hard to become a Master at what you do…are you putting your Mastery to work for you?

Get the tools to promote and grow your business with Expert Position Marketing. Subscribe to Marketing Your Mastery online at Udemy…the academy of you!

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Click here to SAVE 50% with Early Registration!MYM Freeport 130529 460

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May 6, 2013
Categories: Business Life, Inspiration & Motivation, Personal Growth, Philosophy . Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Author: jimbouchard . Comments: Leave a Comment

The Practice Conundrum: Why Practice Sucks and What You Can Do About It

Cubicle GolfOne of the most difficult parts of my job is convincing people they should practice- whether it’s martial arts, business, or just being a decent person.

There’s only one way to achieve your goals: Kung Fu.

In English this means, roughly, get to work…practice!

High-achievers are simply people who accept this fact. They practice- ceaselessly.

Recent studies have shown, much to the surprise of researchers, that high-achievers are just as susceptible to boredom, fatigue, frustration and self-doubt as anyone else.

They practice anyway.

I’ve always been kind of a freak. I really enjoy practicing just about anything. I’m a practice junky!

Most people tend to enjoy the game much more than the practice.

So why do people find it so difficult to practice- whatever it is you practice?

My nearly 30 years of study- and practice in martial arts has led me to this indisputable realization:

Practice sucks!

I mean it! There’s a reason people are “game day” players whether you’re talking about the field, the classroom or the boardroom.

Games are exciting. It’s what you’ve been preparing for. You’re pumped…

Provided you’ve been practicing.

If you step on the field, into the ring or into your next sales presentation unprepared, you’ll understand the importance of preparation and practice intimately.

Unprepared, you feel like an ass. You feel stupid- and you feel as if the entire world knows how stupid you are.

In contrast to the game, practice can be boring, frustrating and tedious. The trick is to manage your expectations- or put another way, understand that each practice session is simply one small step toward your ultimate goal.

Practice is a necessary component to success in everything you do. Here’s how to make it a little more enjoyable:

  • Set small goals for each time you practice, study for your next exam or prepare for your next business meeting
  • Start early and spread the workload
  • Enjoy the process instead of fixating on the results

Always keep in mind that each journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step…and that the rest of the trip is really just a lot of single steps too!

That’s practice…and that’s Kung Fu!

In 30 minutes or less…YOU could learn how to promote and grow your business! It takes less than 30 minutes to complete a section of Marketing Your Mastery online at Udemy…the academy of you!

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May 3, 2013
Categories: Business Life, Campus Life, Family Life, Inspiration & Motivation, Personal Growth, Philosophy . Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Author: jimbouchard . Comments: Leave a Comment

It Doesn’t Matter What You Think: Another Attack on The Law of Attraction

Woman at microphoneOK- I’ve had it up to here!

Thoughts do NOT become things. Period. End of story.

If you want to go on believing that crap, well- it’s a free country. If you’re sick to death of wasting time and money on the endless hit parade of self-aggrandizing new-age pop-star gurus…

…tighten your belt.

A thought is nothing more than a possibility.

Your thoughts do tend to direct your next course of action. If you’ve got even a moderate degree of discipline and focus, that might get you a little closer to accomplishing something useful- provided you’ve got the requisite talent, skill, ability and resources.

Before you sit in front of your vision board to manifest your BMW, consider this…

Are you willing to actually do something to increase the probability that you’ll be driving the Pac Coast highway with the top down next summer?

Thought is how you create possibilities. Action increases probability. Reality is the result of your hard work, discipline, focus and…luck!

Since your thoughts tend to direct your actions- what you think about is likely what you’ll do.

But- at some point you’ve got to stop thinking and start doing. That’s no guarantee of success, but it sure as hell improves your odds!

Here’s the chain of events in the operative sequence:

Thought (Possibility) + Action (Probability) = Reality (Results/Conditions and Circumstances)

Reality is subject to circumstances and conditions you don’t control. What you can control are your thoughts and actions.

Since action is directed by thought- it makes sense to pay careful attention to what you’re thinking! Just don’t think that you’re going to get the job done just by thinking!

It is important to train your thoughts and that takes practice. Train your thinking to generate action focused on your desired results.

Focus your mind on the task at hand- and strap on your belt!

In 30 minutes or less…YOU could learn how to promote and grow your business! It takes less than 30 minutes to complete a section of Marketing Your Mastery online at Udemy…the academy of you!

Enroll TODAY for and SAVE $19!

Use promo code: MYM PREMIER SPECIAL

Offer expires May 31, 2013

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“There are lots of people who claim to be able to help you grow your business.  But when Jim Bouchard teaches ‘Marketing Your Mastery,’ it’s not theory.  Jim’s been there and definitely done that with his own business.  He speaks with the expertise that only comes with experience.”

~Joe Calloway – author Be The Best At What Matters Most

i THINK Self JPG 460w

Are you really doing everything you’re capable of doing?

FREE Black Belt Mindset Personal Assessment…Click HERE!

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May 1, 2013
Categories: Business Life, Campus Life, Family Life, Inspiration & Motivation, Personal Growth, Philosophy . Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Author: jimbouchard . Comments: 4 Comments

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