It’s Actually Extremely Easy to Get Ahead of 99% of People - Miyamoto Musashi

In his youth, Musashi didn’t simply follow the traditional samurai path. Instead, he questioned it, challenged it, and through deep reflection, created his unique way of life and warrior code. With a clear goal and mission, he chose to be a ronin, a samurai with no master, forging his path. This ability to develop a clear goal and mission was the foundation of Musashi’s remarkable success. Too often, people move aimlessly through life, without knowing what they are trying to achieve. Without a clear goal or mission, you’ll be tossed about by the shifting winds of circumstance.

Musashi’s legendary mastery of martial arts was built on this skill of self-control and focus. He avoided indulgences that could dull his body or mind, instead choosing to devote himself entirely to perfecting his sword skills through gruelling practice.

This single-minded discipline elevated his abilities far beyond the ordinary. Without self-discipline, your efforts will inevitably be derailed by impulses, distractions, and the relentless pull of bad habits. You’ll fall victim to procrastination, compromise, and seeking easy pleasures over hard-earned rewards.

The samurai’s way is one of perpetual refinement and striving for perfection in one’s chosen craft. For Musashi, the pursuit of mastery was an all-consuming endeavour. He didn’t just achieve competence with the sword. He continually honed his skills over decades through intensive training, real combat experience, and a studious dissection of technique and strategy. This obsessive commitment allowed Musashi to elevate his abilities to the highest levels. Nowadays, focused dedication to mastery has become rare.

For the samurai, combat was a constantly shifting situation requiring fluidity of mind, rigidly clinging to one approach despite changing circumstances, virtually guaranteed failure. As Musashi learned, there is no single path to victory. The terrain, your opponent’s style, and even the weather demanded you adapt your strategy. This philosophical principle extended far beyond the battlefield. Musashi embraced a worldview of constant change and evolution. His famous text, The Book of Five Rings, represents a distillation of his martial teachings into universal life strategies.

In Musashi’s time, the paths for life were strictly prescribed by society, tradition, and hierarchical structures of master-student relationships. Musashi chose his own way. He preferred to be on his own, travelling and remaining masterless. If this means anything, it means Musashi never sought validation from others. Throughout his journey, he was only concerned with being true to his calling and goal. Today, we face a similar flood of external voices inundating us with suggestions on how to live and who we should be.

From an early age, Musashi’s singular focus was cultivating his martial abilities. He approached this aim with a sense of urgency and intensity as if his very life depended on attaining mastery of strategy and swordsmanship. Adopting this victor’s mindset created a powerful feedback loop. His burning desire to win propelled his disciplined training, which ultimately made victory possible. Like a samurai striving for martial perfection, to get ahead in life, you must develop a similar winning mentality when pursuing your aims.