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War is hell, but if you prepare properly for war, there's not much about life that will take you by surprise. At least, that's the premise of
Unleashing the Warrior Within, in which author Richard Machowicz takes the lessons he learned as a Navy SEAL and applies them to real-life situations.
For example, in war you learn that there are three dynamic elements of combat: target, weapons, and movement. The target dictates the weapons, and the weapons dictate movement. In real life, your target is what you want; your weapons are your skills; and movement is whatever you need to get in position to use your skills.
But, since deciding upon a target is the step that's most troubling to people, he adds another wartime analytical tool called the CARVER matrix. You lay out various targets you may have in life--a better job; getting in shape; buying a new house; and taking on a new business partner, say. Then you assess the criticality, accessibility, recognizability, and vulnerability of the target, plus its effect on your overall mission in life, and the potential return on your effort.
Machowicz calls his philosophy Bukido, and when you take his classes in Los Angeles, you learn self-defense along with these life-improvement skills. In this book, the object is to get you to choose a mission that is closest and most important to you, and then achieve your goals with military precision. By the time you're through learning the seven principles of combat, what you've really learned is how to think critically and focus your efforts. Machowicz uses his students as examples of how the enemy in life is really a lack of action, allowing life to take you along for a ride. So if your current target is a solid self-improvement course, Unleashing the Warrior Within could be your most effective weapon. --Lou Schuler
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Publishers Weekly
Machowicz, founder of the Bukido Training System, a self-protection program, offers his insights on taking charge of one's life, conquering fears and achieving goals. Based in part on his decade-long career as a Navy Seal, Machowicz urges readers to break down their fears into components as the first step toward overcoming worries. After laying out what he calls the "Three Dynamic Elements of Combat" ("The target dictates the weapons and the weapons dictate the movement" one chooses to reach one's goal.), he shows how readers can respond to their fears. In his "Fear Crusher" exercise, he encourages his readers to recall a moment of pride, repeat a motivating phrase, focus on the future and move forward when faced with a terrifying situation. While Machowicz's approach is generally sound, his combat experiences are far afield from the fears and anxieties related to relationships and jobs that most readers must confront. Still, those who have unsuccessfully tried to take charge of their lives may find that his potent prose and no-nonsense approach will motivate them to begin to behave differently, even if they don't conquer all their fears. (Feb.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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