The Bruce Lee Code Revisited: Timeless Wisdom for a Changing World

Welcome to this special November issue of Caricature Conversations, where we revisit an inspiring Q&A with Thomas Lee, acclaimed business journalist and author of The Bruce Lee Code. Since the book's release 18 months ago, the world has shifted dramatically, and Bruce Lee's teachings on resilience, adaptability, and self-mastery feel more relevant than ever.

Thomas Lee, whose journalistic career spans respected outlets like The Street, the San Francisco Chronicle, the Star Tribune, and the Seattle Times, delves deep into Bruce Lee's philosophy. The Bruce Lee Code offers an exploration of Bruce Lee’s life and his unique approach to blending martial arts with personal and professional growth. For those navigating today’s evolving world, Lee’s insights reveal how Bruce Lee’s principles can guide us through times of uncertainty, change, and self-discovery.

In this interview, Thomas Lee revisits his inspiration for the book and reflects on Bruce Lee’s enduring cultural impact. Whether you’re a fan of Bruce Lee or intrigued by philosophies on self-improvement and breaking through limitations, this conversation provides a fresh perspective on lessons that continue to inspire across generations. Join us in rediscovering Thomas Lee’s take on Bruce Lee’s legacy and its powerful resonance as we move toward a transformative new chapter in 2025.

How has your experience as a business journalist, ghostwriter, and author shaped your writing style?

As a journalist, you learn to get to the point fast. You try to convey the most amount of information in the fewest words possible. My experience has also taught me to engage the reader by writing in a clear, quick paced, conversational style. People tell me my books move fast. Which is good because people's attention spans are fickle and you need to respect that.?

What inspired you to write "The Bruce Lee Code" and what message do you hope to convey to readers?

I was the curator and editorial director for the We Are Bruce Lee exhibit at the Chinese Historical Society of America museum in San Francisco China. We divided his life into four personas: Visionary, Athlete, Thinker, and Unifier. In the Visionary section, we explored his career in Hollywood and Hong Kong. This section inspired me to write The Bruce Lee Code. I realized that Bruce Lee demonstrated many of the same traits we celebrate in famous entrepreneurs, including curiosity, innovation, creativity, resilience, and adaptability. Many books have been written about Bruce Lee. What's unique about my book was that I framed his life for a business audience. I wanted the book to inspire entrepreneurs and career minded people by framing Lee's life in ways they could deeply understand and emulate.

How did you apply Bruce Lee's teachings to your life and career?

Being open to possibility. I never thought I would curate an exhibition or write one book, never mind too. Like Bruce, I like to be efficient and let nothing go to waste, especially when it comes to my career. I'm always looking to see how I can use my work, accomplishments, and platforms to find new opportunities. Bruce was very good at that.?

What do you believe are the key elements to success that you have observed in the business world?

I really believe curiosity and humility are key factors to success not just in the business world but life in general. Bruce was a renaissance man. He was constantly reading, learning, adapting. As I describe in the book, Bruce was always scribbling ideas down and seeking to collaborate with people on projects. Bruce did have a big ego but he did possess enough humility and common sense to know when something wasn't working. He constantly questioned things. He didn't just accept ideas at face value. Nor did he reject ideas outright. He took what worked best for him and adapted those ideas to serve his goals.?

What are your plans for the future and how do you plan to continue to grow your career?

I'm working to develop another exhibit on Bruce Lee that explores his relationship to African Americans. Perhaps I can spin another book out of that project as well!?

Check out Thomas Lee's book The Bruce Lee Code on Amazon at: