Many years ago my colleagues used to call me the “Barefoot Warrior” due to both my involvement in the world of martial arts and my propensity to go everywhere barefoot. But, it is also a great metaphor to distinguish those that walk the path of life shod in comfy shoes, insulated from the path they are walking on, oblivious to what they are treading on. Whilst those that walk the path barefoot do so with feeling and awareness. At times walking barefoot may be painful, other times may be blissful, but always with a consciousness of the path one is treading, and the journey one is taking.
The path of the true warrior is not one of violence, but one of peace, compassion and understanding. Understanding the heartache, misery and devastation that conflict causes and avoiding it whenever possible. Understanding that real positive change comes from working together towards a common goal, and compassion creates the opportunity for that change. Understanding that the real fight is with oneself, against the uprising of greed and arrogance (which history shows is the downfall of all great civilisations, and has been demonstrated so clearly to us in 2008/2009). Understanding that true strength lies in the discipline of humility, one of the major traits of leadership (there is no “I” in “Leader”). A warrior has the courage to go against the flow when necessary and take on the tough challenges.
The era of Competition is a thing of the past, the future is in Collaboration. Great leadership is necessary to make the changes required in the world happen now.
The Barefoot Warrior presents a programme of leadership for those leaders with the courage to develop and take on the future.
Rod Tallowin
The Barefoot Warrior