Give Me a Black Belt
By Dan Boudreau
You are far less likely to get injured sparring with a black belt than with an inexperienced karate practitioner. That is, unless the person really wants to injure you. While sparring for points as a karate student, I learned that there is nobody more dangerous than one armed with large amount of enthusiasm and a small amount of knowledge.
In this particular karate club all those aspiring to climb the recognition ladder were invited to fight for points. It was an organized, civilized affair with the master and other black belts refereeing and keeping score. I was wearing a white belt, which reeks of new student. For some reason I was put up against much smaller person who was fervently striving for his green belt. We fought. I was a bit difficult for him because of my larger stature. He was anxious, and eventually frantic. He nailed me too hard on several occasions and eventually lost enough points that I was awarded the points for the fight. I unwittingly won that fight by getting the snot beat out of me.
In a classic case of winning the battle but losing the war, I checked myself into the local hospital later that evening to get an uncommon lot of blood drained from my scrotum. It seems that one of my opponent’s kicks severed a vein that proceeded to inflate my parts up to the size and consistency of a dew melon. Big is not always beautiful. A black belt expert will often inflict less accidental pain on you than an inexperienced, overzealous learner will.
I have observed this dynamic on many occasions in different areas of my life. Customer service is one area where neophytes tend to unknowingly or unintentionally bludgeon their targets; sales is another area. To illustrate this, you need only think back to the last time you were approached by an acquaintance that had recently become impassioned about a multi-level marketing business. There are few things as painful as being accosted by someone who hasn’t yet acquired the finesse to sell and close the deal. Nothing alienates friends and family quite as quickly.
What are the lessons from this?
1. It takes time and practice to acquire finesse.
2. Until you do acquire finesse be aware that you may unknowingly alienate your customer.
3. Alienated customers will not come back or send their friends to you for business.
4. Too much aggression can cost you valuable customers.
5. A significant part of finesse is the ability to listen to your customer.
6. As you learn more about your trade or profession, continue to listen to your customer; he or she will usually signal if you’re bludgeoning them.
7. You must do whatever it takes to acquire black belt level skills in your profession or your business.
You are welcome to publish this article providing you attach this statement with the link back to the RiskBuster website:
“Dan Boudreau is President and CEO of Macrolink Action Plans Inc and the RiskBuster Business Plan Oasis at http://www.riskbuster.com Writing your own business plan can be easy, fast and fun! Instantly download a free copy of Dan’s popular fast-track business plan template, The Shell, when you subscribe to the RiskBuster Oasis Insider at http://www.riskbuster.com”
The End
