He lived a short life but his philosophy and skill would go on to inspire millions and transform pop culture.

Bruce Lee

… widely regarded as the most influential martial artist of all time was a diligent journaler.

He would make copious notes on his thoughts and ideas on how to live life to its fullest.

The insights Bruce had about martial arts are just as relevant for anyone who wants to improve or indeed master NLP.

Early on Bruce realized…

"A teacher is never a giver of truth — he is a guide, a pointer to the truth that each student must find for himself. A good teacher is merely a catalyst." — Bruce Lee

While most students and teachers of his day taught martial arts as a series of fixed movements and techniques (like most NLPers teachers mistakenly teach NLP today), Lee developed a better way.

A way that rejects the notion of using techniques and fixed movements in place of radical simplicity and endless focus on real-world applications.

Jeet Kune Do, the martial art Bruce Lee created focuses on how to use minimal effort to create maximum effect.

That’s exactly what top NLPers do too.

They aren’t interested in maintaining ‘traditions’ or teaching NLP as a set of techniques - rather they encourage their students to take a different path.

The essence of this approach can be summed up in one of my favorite quotes that Bruce said about martial arts, but could just as easily been said to anyone who wants to become really good with NLP…

“You must be shapeless, formless, like water.  When you pour water in a cup, it becomes the cup. When you pour water in a bottle, it becomes the bottle. When you pour water in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Water can drip and it can crash. Become like water my friend.”

Most NLPers have been taught to think about NLP as a series of techniques and tricks.

But that’s such a limiting way to think about NLP!

When you can become like water — you can help people and create outcomes that have a massive effect with minimal effort.

But here’s the rub…

To enjoy this class of result you’ve got to move beyond looking for ‘techniques’ and ‘magic bullets’ for life’s problems.

Instead of looking for THE technique to magic away whatever ailment or problem you have - ask yourself:

“How deeply and completely am I doing the fundamentals every day?”

And be fully honest with yourself.

Not at all?

10%?

20%?

40%?

More than 50%?

You don’t need to practice the fundamentals of NLP 100%, 100% of the time to create brilliant results for yourself or others.

But you do need to practice.

A little bit of intentional practice every day is enough to make a significant difference.

More practice - quicker results.

Bruce Lee knew this.

He practiced the fundamentals of his craft every single day.

And it showed in his work.

Practice the fundamentals of NLP - to begin with internalising the presuppositions, managing your state and using language intentionally - and you’ll quickly see a dramatic leap in the results you can create.

Life rewards those who take action.

Practice your skills daily – reap more rewards.

Bruce Lee was once asked by an interviewer:

“What is the highest technique you hope to achieve?”

His immediate reply:

“To have no technique.”

Spoken like a true master.

Be like water my friend, keep flowing AND keep practicing the fundamentals…

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