The Most Important Battlefield in Life: Business

Where Warriors Get Their Asses Kicked

You’ve been there.

Stepping onto the mat, locking eyes with your opponent.

You know what’s coming—the test, the grind, the battle of skill, endurance, and mental toughness.

Whether it’s BJJ, Hapkido, or any other martial art, the mat is a place of truth.

You either hold your own, or you get smashed.

But here’s the real question:

What happens when you step into the ultimate battlefield—the world of business?

No matter how badass you are in the dojo, your work environment will test you in ways you never imagined.

It’s where most warriors and leaders get humbled, outmaneuvered, and left licking their wounds.

It’s where you see if you can build something real, something that lasts.

Are you thriving?

Or just surviving?

Are you crafting a future on your terms, or are you just another fighter limping off the mat, bruised, beaten, and wondering what went wrong?

I learned this the hard way.

Not on the mat, but in the trenches of business—helping to build my wife’s company.

And let me tell you, nothing, not a single self-help book, taught me more about success and fulfillment than learning the hard and fast principles of business.

Because here’s the truth:

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If you don’t master these principles, you will never succeed.

But if you apply them—not just in business but in life—you will be unstoppable.

The 5 Parts of Every Business (and Relationship)

There’s a great book I’ve mentioned before—The Personal MBA by Josh Kaufman.​

Get the print version, not the audio or e-book version.

Trust me, you’ll be jumping around in it.

(For some reason, the Kindle version doesn’t use hyperlinks, I moved the whole book to my Obsidian app so the links would work.)

Even if you never start an LLC, this book will change the way you move through life.

Because here’s the kicker:

Business is life.

Every single day, whether you realize it or not, you’re making deals, negotiating, selling, marketing, and exchanging value.

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Business is nothing but the exchange of energy—just like martial arts.

And if you don’t get the game, you’ll keep getting played.

There are five core elements of business.

Master these, and you master both business and life. Ignore them, and you’ll keep getting your ass kicked—financially, emotionally, and professionally.

1. Value Creation:
What Do You Bring to the Table?

Think about this:

What makes you valuable?

What unique skills, talents, and gifts do you offer?

If you don’t create value, you don’t exist in business.

And you won’t get far in life.

Simple as that.

In relationships, it’s the same.

Imagine stepping into the dating world with nothing to offer—no sense of humor, no ambition, no purpose.

How long do you think that’s going to last?

Value creation is about making people’s lives easier, better, and happier.

Whether it’s a business product or a romantic relationship, the question is the same: Why would someone choose you?

2. Marketing:
Who Needs What You Have?

Most people think marketing is about selling.

It’s not.

Marketing is simply about connecting with the right people.

It’s about being in the right place at the right time with the right message.

Again, think of dating.

You wouldn’t propose on the first date, right?

That’s not sales—that’s desperation.

Marketing is the “getting to know you” phase.

It’s figuring out if there’s a fit before the big ask.

The biggest mistake warriors make in business?

They think just because they’re good at something, people will magically find them.

Nope.

You’ve got to put yourself out there.

You’ve got to market yourself, your skills, your message.

Otherwise, you’re the world’s best-kept secret—and that won’t pay the bills.

3. Sales:
Can You Close the Deal?

This is where most people freeze up.

They get nervous, they hesitate, and they walk away empty-handed.

Sales is not manipulation.

It’s not about forcing people into something they don’t want.

It’s about trust.

The more trust you build, the bigger the commitment someone is willing to make.

Think of it like dating again.

First date?

Low commitment—maybe coffee or a walk.

You don’t go all in yet.

But over time, trust builds, and before you know it, you’re making bigger commitments.

Business is no different.

If someone isn’t ready to buy from you yet, it’s not because they don’t want what you have—it’s because they don’t trust you yet.

Great salespeople aren’t pushy.

They’re trusted advisors.

They understand needs, build trust, and make the right offer at the right time.

4. Value Delivery:
Do You Actually Follow Through?

How many times have you been burned by a business that over-promised and under-delivered?

Or worse—how many relationships have you seen where the person acted one way at the start and turned into someone completely different after the commitment was made?

That’s failed value delivery.

In business, your reputation is built here.

If you sell a dream and deliver a nightmare, people will not come back.

They won’t recommend you.

And in the age of the internet, your name will be mud faster than you can say “refund.”

In relationships, it’s the same.

You have to show up consistently.

If you’re only charming at the beginning and turn into a ghost after the commitment is made, good luck keeping that person around.

Deliver what you promise.

And when things change?

Communicate, renegotiate, and keep the trust.

5. Finance:
Is the Game Worth Playing?

Let’s talk bottom line.

A business that doesn’t make money won’t last.

A relationship that doesn’t bring mutual value won’t last.

Life is about energy exchanges—time, money, attention, effort.

At the end of the day, you have to ask:

Is this worth it?

• Is this business venture profitable enough to sustain itself?
• Is this relationship giving you more than it’s taking?
• Are you investing in the right places?

People ignore this part because it’s uncomfortable.

They keep throwing time, energy, and resources into something that isn’t working because they hope it will turn around.

Stop.

Step back.

If the numbers don’t make sense, adjust the strategy or walk away.

Master This Battlefield, Master Life

Most people never treat their lives like a business.

They drift through relationships without thinking about what they bring to the table.

They start businesses without knowing how to sell.

They waste years hoping things will “just work out.”

And then?

They get their asses handed to them on the mat of life.

But you?

You’re different.

Because now you know how the game works.

You know the five parts to every business—and every relationship.

And now, you have a choice.

Will you step up and apply these principles?

Or will you keep rolling, taking losses, and wondering why life keeps handing you Ls?

The battlefield of business is the battlefield of life.

If you master this, you don’t just win in business.

You win in everything.

So get out there.

• Build your value.
• Market yourself.
• Close the deal.
• Deliver what you promise.
• Manage your resources.

Because the only difference between warriors who thrive and warriors who struggle?

One understands the game.

The other doesn’t.