What do we already know? One of our problems is trying to separate ourselves from our ideas and our roles. We often think that, as soon as we have an inkling about something, we should be masters of it. Look out, because that is our ego talking and ego stands for Edging God Out—in other words, setting aside our humility and jumping in with both feet, unprepared, just because we have this insane idea that we know what we are doing, or that we know better! True warriors start with the premise that they know nothing (or just enough to cause themselves problems), so they pause before acting—except in battle conditions where they are engaged and operating at expert levels, on instinct, true skill, and knowledge … where there can be no hesitation. They pause to think, meditate, and pray for the right guidance. Who can be consulted? Who has gone this way before? Who has knowledge? Who has skills? Who or what can they approach and engage in order to acquire the necessary insight, skill, training, and understanding of the situation to create the probability of success in the undertaking? True warriors do not fly by the seat of their pants. Although true warriors possess so much skill and acumen that, to the untrained observer, it often looks like they are wizards—always practising magic or seeming to possess a huge store of spells and incantations, one for every conceivable situation.

Do you understand how a skilled practitioner can make progress look so effortless? Look at an expert free climber. Watch them scale the heights, and you would think that they have the combined DNA of a monkey, a mountain goat, and a fly. Just how do they do that? How about Las Vegas magicians with skill and talent? They can do the impossible, things that just can’t be comprehended by you and me. That, my friend, is a demonstration of the power of knowledge, talent, and expert skill. The true warrior knows that he or she cannot rest—in terms of skills acquisition or in the quest for knowledge. This is a lifelong commitment, for the true skill is in knowing that you don’t know … and that you need to ask for help.

You are warriors, and with the right help, the right direction, and the right leadership, you will prevail and achieve greatness you could not have forecast—even on your best day. You will succeed. So it has been written.