Philosophy
A traditional dojo is a school for training in various arts of self-defense (such as Aikido or Karate). At Technology Dojo, we train successful entrepreneurs in the arts of defense against wasted time and energy.
The Inner Game of the Online Entrepreneur
The most gifted athletes today know that physical training is only half the game, and that having control over their thoughts and emotions is the key to performance. While this may seem like a modern-day innovation, the ancient samurai grasped this concept long ago. They believed that discipline, mental clarity and calm were even more important than their skill with a sword, and they devoted a large portion of their training to conditioning their minds.
If you are an entrepreneur, technology is your sword, the most powerful tool in your arsenal. But like a sword, technology can either cut you or serve you, depending on whether you pick it up by the handle or the blade.
“A computer lets you make more mistakes faster than any other invention in human history, with the possible exception of handguns and tequila.” – Mitch Radcliffe
We believe that by practicing elements of Gung-Fu, the Samurai Way, Aikido and other traditions, entrepreneurs can learn how to use computers and the Internet as powerful tools. By paying attention to the inner game of technology, you can calmly evaluate every situation, make sound decisions, remove blocks and discover opportunities.
The Technology Dojo Way is based on five essential principles: Simplicity, Flexibility, Strength, Service and Outcome.
Simplicity
“It is not daily increase but daily decrease; hack away the unessential.” – Bruce Lee
The 80/20 Principle says that 80% of the results you see come from only 20% of the efforts you make. We see entrepreneurs experience a surge of productivity when they cut out half of the technology they’re using now. In many cases, the fancy software programs, online services and other tech toys that promise to save time actually have the opposite effect. It’s time to go Zen.
Flexibility
“The way…is never based on personal choice and fancies, but constantly changes from moment to moment.” – Bruce Lee
We humans are very emotional when it comes to technology. Let’s say you invest $500 in a specialized software program that promises to solve one of your most pressing business needs. A year later you still haven’t managed to get the software to work as promised, but you keep trying to get your money’s worth, refusing to give up or try alternatives. Picture a kung-fu movie fight scene where the hero is surprised by a group of enemies. When the broomstick he is using to defend himself breaks, does he stand there complaining about the quality of the wood or trying to make the useless pieces work? Of course not! He throws away the broken tool and immediately searches the area for a new weapon.
By casting away emotional relationships with broken tools or processes, the modern business samurai continually searches for the best tools that get the highest results.
Strength
“I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.” – Bruce Lee
Bruce Lee believed that the only way to teach a person proper self-defense was to find and develop that person’s own unique strengths. When he coached the seven-foot-two basketball star Kareem-Abdul Jabbar, they focused on developing his impossibly long kick move. By recognizing your own strengths, you can develop them. By recognizing your own weaknesses, you can compensate for them.
Today a lot of our clients tell us they need a blog, because everyone else has one. A blog is a fantastic social networking tool if you are a good writer. But if you don’t enjoy writing, you are likely to spend most of your time feeling badly about not writing posts. Are you better at speaking? Then maybe a podcast or video blog is for you. It’s all about finding and developing your own unique strengths.
Service
“One of the deep secrets of life is that all that is really worth doing is what we do for others.” – Lewis Carol
The word “Samurai” means “one who serves,” and the code of the ancient Samurai is grounded in service to their master. Today, entrepreneurs must focus on serving their customers. The most successful entrepreneurs understand that the first step is to thoroughly understand the people they are serving — their desires, dreams, fears and frustrations. Providing massive value is the path to profitability.
Outcome
“If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will take you there.” – Proverb
For a Samurai in ancient Japan, success was measured by victory on the battlefield. Single-minded in his focus, a Samurai was not distracted by any activity that did not support this one purpose.
As an entrepreneur, do you know where you are going with your business? And how will you know when you get there? Many entrepreneurs crowd their work day with activities, and feel that as long as they’re “busy”, then they must be getting closer to their goal. The modern-day business samurai has a clear picture of their intended outcome, and measurements in place to know when they have reached that outcome. All activities that do not support their goal are stripped away.
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