7 Simple Skills That Pay off Forever
You Don't Need More Tricks - Just These Fundamental Skills
So tell me, do you know Samurai Musashi Miyamoto?
He fought 61 duels — unbeaten in his time and, to this day, unmatched in Japanese history.
But there’s a secret nobody talks about Musashi’s greatest battles were with himself. His journey was all about mastering simple, timeless skills that made him a winner in life.
Let me paint the picture for you. These lessons from history, mixed with some truths I’ve faced, lead to skills that can actually change your life.
1. Detaching Your Worth from Others’ Opinions
This one hurt. Period.
Each decision I made felt like a performance.
What would they think?
Would they approve?
It was exhausting.
Then I flipped it: What if I stopped performing for others and started living for myself?
Here’s what happened:
I stopped believing every move was a mistake waiting to happen.
Criticism no longer picked at my skin.
And most importantly, I felt free — free to do what matters to me.
People will always judge. But their judgment doesn’t pay your bills or live your life.
2. Saying No Without Feeling Guilty
Let me take a guess: you’ve agreed to do things you didn’t want to, just to avoid disappointing someone.
Been there.
Saying no feels unnatural because we’re programmed to please. But the real cost of saying yes to someone else is saying no to yourself.
Here’s the thing:
Every time you say no, you’re saying yes to your priorities.
You’re taking your time, energy, and focus.
3. Owning Your Mistakes Before Someone Else Does
People trust those who admit their flaws.
Musashi once said, “Perceive that which cannot be seen with the eye.” Owning your mistakes is about seeing beyond your ego.
Be honest — there were times I wanted to run and hide from my failures. But when I finally owned them:
They respected me more.
I took control of the narrative instead of passing it on to someone else.
Mistakes don’t define you — how you handle them does.
4. Deciding Without Permission
Imagine being in battle, waiting for someone to tell you, “It’s okay; you can make your move.” You’d be dead.
Indecision has been my worst enemy. I’ve lost hours, days, even weeks, stuck in limbo.
Then I asked myself: What’s the worst that could happen if I just went for it?
Here’s what I learned:
Action breeds momentum. Even if you fail, you’re one step closer.
Waiting for permission only keeps you stuck.
5. Repetitive Drudgery Without Complaining
No one wants to hear this.
Here’s the part no one talks about: the trick is repetition.
Musashi didn’t master swordsmanship by practicing flashy moves. He perfected the basics over and over until they became automatic.
For me, it was writing.
The first 10,000 words? Awful.
But I persisted.
Now, it feels like second nature.
The grind isn’t glamorous, but that’s where growth happens.
The world rewards those who learn the basics and stick with them.
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