Wu Wei (無 爲) is often translated as non-action and the entrepreneurs could not apparently be further from this Taoist ideal. Yet, Sifu Adam Mizner may have a better translation of Wu Wei: non-preference. Preference, in this context of entrepreneurship, refers to being tied to an idea that ultimately links us to an increasingly risky strategy or business model that ultimately fails.
The water is the essence of wu wei, and she shows her power by yielding and yet somehow reaching the goal anyway. The trick is not to stay constantly passive, to wait for life to stomp on you and then to proclaim to the world that you are a great entrepreneur because of your flexibility. Having a goal is an essential piece of The Tao Of Entrepreneurship, and without the goal, without the intention of achieving something specific, you have a stagnant pelvis. We are looking for a river, for waves that slowly erode the rock in its path. We want to go from point A to point B.
How to unblock "the paradox of wu wei – action without action or action without effort" We do this by understanding the masters.To understand the practical applications of wu wei, take a look at this array of shots that includes all the shots of Lebron James over 15 years.
If you were to defend LeBron James in the NBA Finals and you had to guess if he was shooting more often on the left side of the court or on the right, which one would you choose? He exposes Wu Wei to a high level by his lack of preference. Lebron James has non-preference when it is left and right . You'll notice that he has a small preference for going to the rim, but he's not at all afraid to shoot behind the bow. Left or right, that's fine. He is a long distance and close threat.
In the business world, non-preference manifests itself in icons like Steve Jobs, who was not attached to the form of computers. His original creation, the Apple 1, had no monitor, keyboard or mouse. He also bought Pixar, which is a world away from computer manufacturing. Jobs clearly had objectives to create the best personal computer (Macintosh), the best listening device (iPod) and the next generation of phones (iPhone). The Tao of Steve Jobs can be seen manifested in the distance between products and his lack of preference to only create the best desktop.
Richard Branson's Tao shows us that non-preference can lead to legendary achievements. Mr. Branson started in music (Virgin Records), moved on planes (Virgin Atlantic), then spaceships (Virgin Galactic), and en route in real estate (Virgin Hotels), became a personality of television and, of course, record for the fastest crossing of the Channel by an amphibious vehicle. He was knighted and would have a value of $ 5.1 billion.
Flexibility and consistent performance in business without goals is a fast track to bankruptcy. Having goals and being certain that the path you want is the right one is also a fast track to bankruptcy. The key to wu wei and the Tao Of Entrepreneurship is to see you as an entrepreneur first. A sustainable and profitable venture is the goal, and the way must be left or right, until or down.