Before I advised companies, I trained karate at a level where the difference between winning and losing is measured in hundredths of a second. Surprisingly much of what the sport taught me I now use in work with clients.
Preparation decides before the match
On the tatami you don't win at the moment of the strike, but in the months of preparation before it. The same is true for a contract or an audit: the outcome is set by what you prepared, not by last-minute improvisation.
Discipline is freedom
A firm system — whether of training or of documents — doesn't restrict you, it frees you. When the fundamentals are in order, you have room to react to the unexpected. And humility? It keeps you grounded exactly when you think you already know everything.