In classical martial arts teachings, the teacher would hold back knowledge from the students until he was sure that they were worthy of that information. In days of old, the person with the power of the strategy and tactics of a warrior, ruled the area and so great effort was used to not share the inside information to anyone unless you were sure they would not abuse it. This knowledge they held back was called Okuden or hidden knowledge.
This same idea is used today in the modern business world as well. Many successful business owners hold back their knowledge of marketing and sales from the average person, because it is priceless in the hands of someone that knows what they are doing. Surrounded by people who don’t have a clue, the successful business warrior today holds back that knowledge until he finds a student worthy of learning.
There is an old saying that an adult would never give a priceless Samurai Sword to a child. Not knowing its worth, the child would simply drag it around in the mud. The same is true with quality martial arts or inner circle knowledge of entrepreneurship. Not knowing the true knowledge they are receiving, they simply do not value you it and usually don’t act upon that knowledge.
Today more than ever a senior teacher should screen his students well in order to make sure the student they are getting ready to teach understands the value of the relationship between them and the value of the priceless knowledge they are getting. Once in the inner circle, a dedicated student will be positioned to obtain treasures beyond belief.
