The Wrong Room Will Kill You.

Don't let the wrong room kill you!

Each week you've got to find yourself in two different rooms if you want success:

Room 1 is where you LEAD.

Room 2 is where you GROW.

These rooms are very different. In Room 1 you are the best. Being the best puts you in charge. It feels good to be in charge.

Room 1 also gives you an opportunity to give.

But if you spend too much time in room 1 it will corrupt you. You will become like so many of our leaders and politicians.

To be successful you’ve got to spend time in the other room. In room 2 you are likely the worst. Room 2 is filled with people who are better than you. But it’s in room 2 that you grow.

Most people live their lives in only ONE of those rooms. The corrupt spend their lives in room 1. The meek spend their lives in room 2.

The corrupt and the meek always fail.

---

I’ve taught martial arts professionally for over thirty years. During that time I’ve seen my share of ups and downs. Looking back I can tell you what caused the ups. I can also tell you what caused the downs.

Now that I know the cause I can tell you how to avoid the downs.

Here’s how it works.

When you start to learn something new you are in room 2. There will be a lot of others who are better than you there. In room 2 you will be uncomfortable. You might even be frustrated.

But if you’re mindful you will notice that even during the discomfort and frustration… you are growing! In room 2 your income will grow, your health will improve, your relationships get better.

But here’s what happens. Eventually you grow strong and begin to master the teachings in room 2. Eventually YOU become the leader. It feels good to be leader. It’s cushy and warm. Like a womb.

When the room you are in gets really comfortable it becomes room 1. Room 2 over time always BECOMES room 1!

Being in room 1 IS important. You’ve got to spend time each week being a leader. You are adding value and helping others.

Spending time in room 1 also prevents you from becoming meek.

But when you lead you are no longer growing. You are feeding others but not yourself. Pretty soon you won’t have anything more to give. You will begin to fail.

Some people stuck in room 1 turn to corruption. (Lying, cheating, manipulation.)

Other people stuck in room 1 turn to quasi religion. (As in: “Oh look at how spiritual I am - I’m ABOVE personal growth.”)

Either way a leader with nothing to give always begins to rot. A rotting leader always comes up with clever ways to hide the smell.

---

As a lifetime martial arts teacher I can tell you the temptation to stay in room 1 is strong. But the best days of my career have been when I struggled.

Being in room 2 is expensive. The follower is the one who pays. You don’t always pay with money but you always pay with effort and sacrifice. If you are in a room and not paying you are not in room 2.

But the one who pays is always the one who grows.

---

Spend time around people that are smarter, wealthier, and more disciplined. Room 2 is where your heros hang out.

In the world of Martial Arts many of us don’t want to move into room 2. It’s easier to create “titles” and “ranks”.

But if you don’t spend time in room 2 your followers lose their respect for you.

I can always tell when I haven’t spent enough time in room 2. My students look for better teachers during those times. And you know what? They deserve them.

I don’t have to always improve my skill as a martial artist to get into room 2. I’ve spent the last year or two learning to write. If you saw how long it used to take me to create a post a year ago you would be amazed. I’ve really grown.

If you saw how much I’m struggling to get this on the page right now you would know which room I’m still in.

I’m growing in other areas too.

Every week I spend time in a real room with people who are better than me. People who are smarter. People who make more money. People who live in bigger and better houses. People with bigger influence and better relationships.

Sometimes it hurts. But when it hurts I know I’m in the right place.

When it hurts I know I’m on the way UP.

And now you know how to be on the way UP too!