I was delighted to learn this quote yesterday:

It’s better to sweat in training than bleed in battle.

Evidently, it’s a military and martial arts mantra which my yoga teacher shared.  The idea is simple:  Preparation absorbs the pain early, so the real moment demands less of it later.

Obviously, I’m doing yoga to stay mobile in my twilight years.

Yet how often do we sweat in training for our professional life?  I’d argue we often do the opposite.

We hope the difficult conversation will somehow resolve itself.
We assume the presentation will come together on the day.
We tell ourselves we’ll lead when the title arrives.

But work generally exposes whatever preparation has or hasn’t happened beforehand.

If you want to handle conflict well, practise difficult conversations now.
If you want to deliver powerful keynotes, practise speaking long before the big stage appears.
If you aspire to lead at the highest level, start developing the habits of leadership long before the title arrives.

Training is not glamorous.  It’s repetitive.  Quiet.  And very often invisible.

But it builds something that cannot be improvised under pressure: composure.

PS  I learned another military expression yesterday which I am sharing on LinkedIn today.  I’d love to see you there.