Entrepreneurs: Be Like Water ??

As a teenager, Bruce Lee was a passionate and hot-headed kung fu student under the tutelage of Master Yip Man. Though Bruce was eager to prove himself as the best, Yip Man cautioned him against this aggressive attitude, urging him to find a sense of calm and detachment.

Despite understanding the wisdom of his teacher's words, Bruce struggled to put them into practice. In confrontations, he often lost control and reverted to his old ways.

After one particularly heated incident, Yip Man sent Bruce home for a week to relax and reflect. Bruce attempted meditation, but found his mind restless. Instead, he took to sailing, where he experienced a moment of clarity that changed his life.

While out on the water, Bruce became so frustrated with his memories that he punched the water. In that moment, he realized the strength and resilience of water: though it appeared weak, it could not be hurt by his fist, and over time could even wear down the hardest surfaces.

From then on, Bruce aspired to be like water - to have the strength that comes from calmness and adaptability.

My Advice to Entrepreneurs

I have the privilege of teaching a global entrepreneurship class at UNLV's Business School in Las Vegas. The students are hungry, ambitious, creative and hopeful.

Each semester, I get the same types of questions right off the bat.

I want to start my own business. What advice do you have for me?

My advice? ...

Be Like Water        

Be Flexible

If you're an entrepreneur, or strive to be one, you are most likely driven, goal oriented and focused on building something great.

The problem is that we can get blinders on and forget to be flexible enough to adapt and see opportunities in the surrounding areas of our ideas. When faced with obstacles, if we're too rigid, we can break.

Getting distracted is one thing, but being open to great ideas and making your business better is a skill that you must develop.

Maverick ( Rye Jezreel Maverick Garing ), one of my students from this semester, said this about being like water..

"When faced with unexpected, unfamiliar, or undesirable challenges in school, work, and life in general, I will deliberately choose to work it out with the resources that I have in myself"?

Be Powerful

Water is what made the Grand Canyon. It is powerful beyond comprehension. It is relentless and does not quit.

Another student in my class, Sky D. said "I love how the water can break down even the largest chunks of stone into sand. Like water, if I keep focused on overcoming obstacles and adapting to new environments, I can achieve my goals."

Flexible + Powerful

When we open our minds to all the possibilities around us, and then focus powerfully on what we want to accomplish, we put ourselves in a very strategic position.

When I started Privado Health , I had a very specific goal of becoming the most technologically advanced ASC Management company in the world. We would build our own EHR, have our own proprietary processes and do things that other management companies could never do. I was hyper focused on all the areas around building and running ASCs. But then, an amazing opportunity that is somewhat outside of the ASC space came up. If I would have been too rigid and close minded, I would have lost out on something incredible. Thankfully, we have found a way to combine these opportunities with what we're doing in the ASC space. I can't wait to make that announcement soon.

Bruce Lee famously said this during an interview...

“You must be shapeless, formless, like water. When you pour water in a cup, it becomes the cup. When you pour water in a bottle, it becomes the bottle. When you pour water in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Water can drip and it can crash. Become like water my friend.”

So, to all my entrepreneurial colleagues, young and old...

Be Like Water my friends, Be Like Water.