Lessons Learned from Bruce Lee

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I have a post on Lessons Learned from Bruce Lee on Sources of Insight.  Bruce Lee was one of my early inspirations.  He was a patterns and practices kind of a guy.  In fact, Bruce influenced my software engineering approach.  Rather than lock into a single style, he took the best techniques from various martial arts and measured against effectiveness.  For example, he took a boxer's hands and a wreslter's grappling skills.

Here is a summary of my lessons from Bruce:

  • Be YOUR best.
  • Absorb what is useful.
  • Keep an open mind.
  • Aim past your target.
  • Stay flexible.
  • Focus on growth.
  • Master your mind and body.
  • Apply what you know.
  • Make things happen.

My favorite Bruce Lee quote is "Absorb what is useful, Discard what is not, Add what is uniquely your own.”  It's all about finding what works for you and not blindly adopting things.

I've included a more exhaustive list of my favorite Bruce Lee quotes in my post, Lessons Learned from Bruce Lee.  Whether you're a Bruce Lee fan or on a path of personal development, I think you'll enjoy the tour of Bruce's insight and words of wisdom.