When you first arrive at my home page, you quickly become aware of the fluid movement of my provocative Chinese Logo. But, if you look closely, are you aware of the Champion Warrior coach,leader,athlete in the middle of the red box breaking free from the confines throwing arms and legs to the outside. Notice how the color of this figure changes from black to a shade of gray. Let me explain the subtle shifts going on before your eyes. The Warrior is trapped inside the box where everything is black and white( notice that?), right or wrong,good or bad,winner or loser. The Warrior knows that such dualities must be neutralized if success is to be attained. For example, loss isn't good or bad...it's a teacher helping us to refine our game and learn then move forward. Also, our opponents aren't the bad guys...they are partners who, because of their presence, challenge us to improve and bring out our best. Sometimes, less is more and soft is strong ( water is soft but wears away rock). Such thinking is counter-intuitive for most leaders/coaches but for the Warrior coach/leader there is no other way...we must break out and transform. But it takes sacrifice,suffering and pain to change, to be different, to follow your heart and not the orders of the masses. That's why the box is symbolically colored red, the Chinese color for fire ( pain,suffering), change and transformation. Anything that comes in contact with fire changes and transforms. Notice the Warrior goes from black to a shade of gray when exiting the red box. Red is also the color of Heart and passion...meaning in this case, follow your heart and what you love...and all will work out the way it suppose to. Hopefully, I have not confused you and you understand the essence of this well thought out logo.
So why is all of this important and what significance does it have in the work that you do? Only you can answer this question for yourself . However, I have noticed that extraordinarily effective,successful coaches and leaders seem to have a way of thinking outside-the-box. They are unusually inspirational and empower others to seek their individual and collective greatness. If you read all of my blogs on leadership/coaching you become aware of how much of the material is different than the norm, unconventional and refreshingly stimulating outside-thge-box thought processes. By looking at my Warrior/Champion Logo, I am constantly reminded about the importance of such thoughts while it keeps me focused on what matters. This is The Way of the Champion, the Warrior coach-leader.
Thank you, my friend and co-author, Chungliang Al Huang for creating this beautiful Chinese calligraphic Logo. You're the best.
Dr. Lynch,
ReplyDeleteI can easily identify with the Warrior in the box and often times feel societal pressures to remain inside that box. The world seems to want to keep everything in a nice neat little box where everything is as you say black and white. It takes great courage and self awareness to step outside that box and challenge societal norms. I must however admit that it is not just society that wants to keep us in the box, but often it is our own lack of courage, and fear of the uncertainty that awaits us outside the comfort that the box may provide. I feel life at times can be messy and very much grey but if I don’t challenge myself, and embrace the uncertainty that lies outside the black and white box, I will miss the real beauty that life has to offer us, and my potential to do some amazing things outside the box.
There is great significance in your logo and I appreciate the effort you put into its well thought out design, and explanation. I will personally work hard every day to remain a “Warrior” outside the box.
Eric Keating