I was quite struck by this image at the BritishMuseum recently of a Samurai warrior reviewing his iPhone.
It made me question that the tools may have evolved, but have we?
The Samurai didn’t disappear because they lacked strength. They disappeared because strength alone stopped being enough. Samurai have always fascinated me.
Warriors, yes. But also political operators and refined technicians. They lived by Bushidō – honour, loyalty, discipline.
And it worked. Until the world accelerated.
Rapid industrialisation didn’t defeat them in battle – it made the structure obsolete.
Discipline sustains order. But without these EI components, emotional awareness, flexibility and empathy, adaptation becomes difficult.
Traditional strength without these to soften, to balance, eventually fractures.
In our accelerating world, adaptability is a potent advantage. Things may change, but EQ will still be vital in order to thrive.
Do you know your potent advantage, or what you need to work on?
The exhibition was excellent btw;