Wax On, Wax Off: Business Mastery Lessons from The Karate Kid

Let’s get straight to it: most people overcomplicate success. They chase the next big thing, the latest trend, or the most advanced strategy, thinking that’s the answer to their problems. Here’s the reality—success in area of life (or business) is built on mastering the fundamentals.

Think about The Karate Kid for a moment. Daniel wanted to punch, kick, and fight right away. But Mr. Miyagi told him to "go wax the car." Why? Because mastery comes from understanding and embodying the basics first. It's the same in business.

In my work, I teach Five Wealth Creation Foundations:

• Vision: Knowing where you’re headed and what you want to create.
• Audience: Understanding who you serve and what they truly need.
• Offerings: Developing products or services that solve real problems.
• Marketing: Reaching your audience with the right message at the right time.
• Sales: Converting interest into action, consistently and confidently.

These aren’t just boxes to check off—they’re the pillars of real success. Anytime you're dealing with a challenge in your business, regardless of how long you've been operating or what phase you're in, the problem is going to be in one of these areas. Which is also to say that the solution to whatever challenge you're facing will also be found here. Yet, many entrepreneurs get distracted by shiny objects, thinking that some new tactic or tool will suddenly transform their business. But without a strong foundation, all the tactics in the world won’t save you.

Now, let me be clear: mastering the fundamentals isn’t just about the practical steps. It’s about being intentional with how you approach them. That’s why I operate with three core intentions in everything I do:

1. To Let People Get to Know Me and My Approach: I want you to understand not just what I teach, but who I am and why this matters to me. Authenticity and connection are at the heart of my work.
2. To Deliver Exceptional Value: I aim to be invaluable to you. My goal is to provide insights, strategies, and tools that you can’t find anywhere else, and that genuinely make a difference in your business.
3. To Build Trust: Success in business is about more than one-off transactions; it’s about creating ongoing, mutually beneficial partnerships. Trust is the foundation of any long-term relationship, and I’m committed to earning it.

Mastering these fundamentals and being intentional with your approach isn’t glamorous. It’s not the kind of thing that’s going to get you a ton of likes on social media or make you an overnight success. But it’s the kind of thing that’s going to give you both immediate and lasting results. In the short term, this means generating revenue and creating systems that work. In the long term, it’s about developing a message that resonates and building a platform that stands the test of time.

Sun Tzu said, "There are not more than five musical notes, yet the combinations of these five give rise to more melodies than can ever be heard." The same goes for the fundamentals I teach. They may seem simple, but the way you use them can create endless possibilities.

Think about The Karate Kid for a moment. Daniel wanted to punch, kick, and fight right away. But Mr. Miyagi told him to "go wax the car." Why? Because mastery comes from understanding and embodying the basics first. It's the same in business.

Sun Tzu said, "There are not more than five musical notes, yet the combinations of these five give rise to more melodies than can ever be heard." The same goes for the fundamentals I teach. They may seem simple, but the way you use them can create endless possibilities.

So, what’s possible when you stop skipping ahead and fully embrace these foundations? When you commit to immediate results—like revenue and systems—and also to building something that will last, like a powerful message and a solid platform?

Transformation begins and flows from a continual engagement with mastering the basics. This includes a laser-like focus on high-level intention and consistent purposeful action.

Ask yourself: are you truly committed to doing the work? Are you willing to dig in and get the basics right? Is it time to stop chasing and start actualizing? Success isn’t about perfection; it’s about spiraling upward, doing the high-value things consistently and regularly evaluating your progress. And real progress starts with mastering the fundamentals and being intentional about how you implement them.

From my mind to yours,

Michael Mapes