One of my teachers is Wendy Palmer, a 30+ year aikido black belt. She can perform a complex, perfect throw to disable her opponent but if she ends up off balance, she is not ready for the next attack. She is actually better off by making a good throw and then staying Balanced (Centered) so she can handle the next aggressive attacker.

For us in the business word this is about handling the current crisis from a position of Center and then being ready and Balanced for the next hot email, customer call, litigation, economic crisis, etc. We know for sure in the business world there is always a next attack so you are more effective if you can stay Centered

The interesting point here is that it is better to be Balanced than to be Right. This is a startling point of view. We were all raised with the point of view that an A is better than a B, faster is better than slower, more is better than less. This new view is that getting a B but being Centered is better than getting an A and ending up emotionally or physically spent, not ready for the next test.

Can you see how this happens in the work place? Often executives focus on getting the A+ (revenue, margins, products, etc.) at the expense of throwing themselves and their entire teams off balance.

This is also easy to see at home with partners or kids. A mom trying to do it all and do it perfectly ends up crashing and upsetting the entire family. Better to be Balanced and ready for the next challenge. Or the Dad that comes home in a huff and in a few minutes can disrupt a stable household because something is not right. Your Personality wants everything to be sorted, your Center accepts and acknowledges the inherent chaos of the world and readies you for the next challenge.

And the funny thing, the more Balanced and not Right you are, the better chance you have of getting the A+ or hitting your margin targets.

Try this on and see what happens. Go for Balance vs., being right.

You will be delighted and your teamwork or home will have a direct and immediate positive impact.

Be Balanced, Not Right.