How do you know what you know? The mind is a very interesting organ, place, or construct that we know very little about. The fact that we know so little doesn’t stop us from making up various conjectures about what happens, how it happens, why it happens, and what we can do to gain deeper insights into our thinking and thought processes. The true warrior understands that we give all the meaning there is to everything we see. The meaning doesn’t come to us from the seeing or recognition of the thing. The meaning comes from our minds. The longer we have been alive, and the more of everything we have been exposed to. The more education, training, and occupational activities that we have been engaged in, the greater the pool of mental snippets that exist in our minds. The more mental snippets there are, the greater the minds’ ability to make connections and gain comprehension when looking at the world.

The bottom line is that perception is everything. If you perceive something to be a certain way and your entire team’s perception of that same thing is different, you will likely abandon your perception and accept the team’s perception, for no other reason than that the opinion of your team carries more weight with your thinking processes than does your own perception. Everyone, at some point, thought that the world was flat, even though their personal observations were not consistent with that belief. Anyone living in a coastal community would have always seen the hull of a ship disappear before the mast and sails disappeared. The final thing to disappear was the very top of the mast. If the world was flat, a sailing ship would remain visible in proportion to itself until it became so small that it could no longer be seen. But the majority couldn’t be wrong, so a flat world was the accepted truth.

The true warrior knows that perception is not the same as truth or reality. The true warrior knows that perception can be manipulated, and so is always aware that they may be surrounded by misperceptions, myth, and irrational beliefs, and will be vigilant to avoid being converted to the status quo of the current environment—always aware of the potential influences on his or her mind. True warriors know that they can influence the minds of others in many ways—everything from rumour and reference, to leadership and association. There are a myriad of influences that are at work and in play twenty-four seven, so pay attention to all that you do, and why you do it.

You are warriors, and by your actions, you shall be known. Your actions can change the state of affairs within your endeavours, and as a result, you will be able to create extensive success. So it has been written.