In my last post, I mentioned the concept of shoshin, or beginner's mind. In my jiu-jitsu training, shoshin has proven invaluable, but it has also influenced other areas of my life. Shoshin allows me to approach each endeavor with an empty, open mind -- free of preconceived notions. But how does this help? And how does this apply to marketing strategy?

Storytelling is something that all of us have done naturally from a young age.  As children, we would offer up whimsical stories from the playground or backyard to whomever would listen. But, something happens during the transition from childhood to adulthood. We tend to lose our sense of wonder and curiosity, leaving many of us unable to connect with others at a deeply emotional level. Telling a great story is an art form and, when done correctly, can have significant power in connecting with people. This emotional connection is extremely meaningful in building trust and long term relationships.

Our totally awesome intern, Emily, went back to school -- but before she left, she interviewed me. I thought it might be interesting to share. It gives a pretty good snapshot of my approach to sales and marketing.

Miyamoto Musashi was a famous Japanese swordsman who traveled 17th century Japan, engaging in duels and developing his unique two-handed fighting style. In the 1935 epic, Musashi, Eiji Yoshikawa writes about the life of this famous samurai. Although the account is somewhat fictionalized, it is based on Musashi's real-life quest for swordfighting perfection in which he vanquished many skilled opponents and eventually experienced a martial arts enlightenment. It's a great read and I highly recommend it.