This weekend an awesome Blackbelt Leadership student of mine, Dave, told me:

“Don’t beat yourself up; look at how far you’ve come.”

And, while this is generally good advice, there is another side to the story that led to meditation this weekend and ultimately to the writing of this blog.

Thanks Dave!

1. It is true that we should never beat ourselves up. On the contrary, we should embrace mistakes and failures and learn from them!
2. It is also true that I have come a long way! Probably, so have you!
3. Finally, and herein lies the lesson, it is also true that I do not beat myself up- but I do hold myself to an incredibly high standard and I do regularly and frequently, perhaps incessantly, seek ways to make whatever I am doing better. Upon meditation this weekend, I believe that’s one of the most important secrets to my success and how far I’ve come.

It is an interesting dichotomy.

I teach my instructors to “be a good finder” as their first skill; and this is to say that I want them finding the students doing something right.

Yet, with myself (and to some degree my team) I look for what we’re doing wrong.

But, while this is dichotomous, it is also easy to explain.

The student is a beginner. They most likely have a fragile self-esteem and most assuredly are trying something new that they’ve never tried before.

The student both deserves and requires more focus on what is right than what is wrong- particularly at the beginning and of course we also refine and improve their technique, fitness, focus and all of it on their journey to Blackbelt Leadership Excellence.

My team and I, on the contrary, are not beginners but professionals.

It is our job to be Great at what we do.

And we are. (see, no lack of self-esteem there).

In transparency, I think we are the best at what we do.

But here’s the thing….

I also consummately believe that we can be better.

So that’s also what we do; explore ways to be even better at what we do each and every day.

And that’s why we’ve come so far and will just keep going!

Prepare To Live; Empower To Lead!

Grand Master Stephen J. Del Castillo
Founding Master Instructor, Krav Maga Martial Arts
TampaKravMaga.com
Author of Developing Your Superpowers  Meditations On Mastery Vol One
Check out the Meditations On Mastery Blog and Podcast too!

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TampaKravMaga.com and Krav Maga Martial Arts have been empowering lives through the martial arts in the Tampa Bay area for over 20 years!

Founded in 2000 by Grandmaster Stephen J. Del Castillo, a 7th degree Black Belt and Sr. Master Instructor, Krav Maga Martial Arts and Karate lessons for pre-school children ages 3-6 and elementary age kids ages 7 and up are designed to develop the critical building blocks kids need – specialized for their age group – for school excellence and later success in life.

Krav Maga Martial Arts Adult Krav Maga training is a complete adult self defense, fitness, and conditioning program for adults who want to learn real world self defense, lose weight, and/or get (and stay in shape).

If you have any questions about our program, or would like to go ahead redeem your 2 weeks FREE, you can call us anytime at 813-547-6368 or visit our Krav Maga Martial Arts website.

About Grandmaster Stephen J. Del Castillo: Grandmaster Del Castillo is the founding Master Instructor of Krav Maga Martial Arts and has been empowering lives in Pasco and Hillsborough Counties since October of 2000. He is a 7th degree Blackbelt, MBA, author, mentor and success coach, a US Army Veteran and a proud father and grandfather. He is married to Ms. Barbara Del Castillo who helps him run the school. Grand Master Del Castillo began his training in the early 80’s and has high level blackbelts in Tae Kwon Do, Karate, Premier Martial Arts and Krav Maga Martial Arts as well as experience in kickboxing, Jeet Kune Do and Jiujitsu. He has high level instructor certifications from BBSI, IKMF, and KMG and has been featured in numerous Martial Arts publications and also Success magazine. He was a competitive sport karate and American Kickboxing instructor until he enlisted in the US Army where he served in the 82nd Airborne Division, where he won an Army Green to Gold scholarship and proceeded to ROTC and the University of Tampa. He was commisioned in 1992 and went on to serve in Germany with the 3rd Infantry Division and then in several other posts in the US until he left military service to pursue his dream of creating KMMA in 2000.

The Krav MagaMartial Arts Headquarters is in Lutz, FL at 1900 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., 33549. Krav Maga Martial Arts serves Lutz, Land O’ Lakes, Wesley Chapel, and surrounding areas.

Also, check us out on Fun4TampaKids & on Go2Karate.com