The Successful Warrior Is The Average Man

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“The successful warrior is the average man, with laser-like focus.” -Bruce Lee

Bruce Jun Fan Lee (1940 – 1973) was a Hongkong American martial artist, actor, and filmmaker who is considered as a pop culture icon of the 20th century. He popularized martial arts in Hollywood and changed the way Asians are portrayed. Before he formally appeared on TV and movie screens, he studied Philosophy in the University in Washington where he also met his wife. His interest in kung fu inspired him to understand further the philosophy in martial arts.

Although popularly known as a kung fu warrior, Bruce Lee was a philosopher and an ardent learner of several things that are not related to martial arts. He studied English and taught himself how to make casual conversations through books and interactions. He had been always known for achieving goals through hardwork and focus. His quote above is a testament of that philosophy.

Focusing on a goal is not something everyone can easily do, especially in the modern times. A study by Larry Rosen, Ph.D., found out that technology is the major source of distractions for middle school to university students. More importantly, these distractions significantly lower their focus, resulting to poor academic performance.

The importance of focus is apparent in the lives of extraordinary people. As international bestselling writer Paulo Coelho puts it: “Whenever you want to achieve something, keep your eyes open, concentrate and make sure you know exactly what it is you want. No one can hit their target with their eyes closed.”