“Stress Based Training” is one of the core philosophies of Krav Maga. After three weeks of training, yesterday I finally got to experience it for real. First thing the trainer had me do was bring our heart rate up to simulate the stress levels to make the situtation seem as real as possible and then he continually attacked me again and again without rest for several minutes.

There was no time to think about technique or form. I could only react. Having been a blackbet in MMA, I assumed I’d do well in this, despite having been out of practice, out of shape for a few years and fasting for Ramadan.

As soon as the controlled onslaught started, I realized I wasn’t as prespared as I thought I’d be. In the first 30 seconds I seemed to stand my ground, but at the end of it, I was knocked flat onto the floor gasping for breath.

My instructor looked down at me with a big grin saying, “That was fun! Get up and lets do it again.”

Personal Insight:
What ever technical skills you learn will not be of much value to you unless you practice it in real world situtations. With martial arts it’s “stress-based training.” With marketing is engaging in real campaigns with real deadlines.

If you don’t see yourself as a winner, then you cannot perform as a winner.
- Zig Ziglar

As part of our trianing in martial arts, each class started off with a moment of meditation visualizing the next hour as a successful hour of training. At the end of the class we’d do the meditation again except focusing on what we wanted to improve on and visualizing performing that with excellence.

This training carried over in sales, visualizing myself successfully securing the client. Although I didn’t get the sale every time, my confidence was always at it’s best.

This photo is from my trip to Whistler, British Columbia (north of Vancouver) in summer of 2009, the year before the Inukshuk was made famous by the 2010 winter olympics. The gentleman sitting in the photo is my friend Irtiza Hasan.

Marketing takes a day to learn. Unfortunately it takes a lifetime to master.

- Phil Kolter

When I was in high school, one of my teachers said, “So I heard you earned your black belt.”

With pride I replied, “Yup! Took me 12 years to get it!”

He responded, “Excellent! Now you know everything you need to begin a lifetime of learning.”

The photo above is of my great grandfather (mother’s side) who is currently over 100 years old.