“Kyo Kushin Kai” – The Way of the True Heart.

The “Zappos” podcast IMMEDIATELY resonated with me on a very special personal cord.

Tony Hsieh decided to sell a very successful and growing company, Link Exchange, to follow his true heart and be happy with himself.

This reminds me of a very special personal experience… “many, many years ago, in a land far, far away” … I started graduate degree studies while on active duty in the Army, I was a senior Captain at the time. The U.S. Army, in their infinite wisdom, decided to accept me into their advanced civil schooling program. Although I was a Natural Science major, biology and chemistry, I was “highly encouraged” or “voluntold” in good Army form, to enter an MBA program. I was directed to search for a “good” MBA program, apply, obtain acceptance… and the Army would take care of the rest, i.e. tuition and relocation logistics.

At the time, the MBA “rankings” had Northwestern University, the Kellogg’s Graduate School of Management as the number 1 rated school, and The University of Chicago, Graduate School of Business (now Booth School of Business) as number 2… The Wharton School was ranked number 3 and the Harvard Business School ranked number 4. Me being me, I decided to apply to the top two ranked schools as they were in the same vicinity… the Kellogg school in Evanston, which is a northern suburb of Chicago, and Chicago GSB in the southern part of Chicago.

To make a long and rather complicated story short and simple, I was accepted to the University of Chicago, a better school as a whole, and I made the firm decision and commitment to attend the aforementioned.

While attending school, my family and I were assigned living quarters at Fort Sheridan, Illinois which was only 30 minutes away from school by train. While living at Fort Sheridan, I met another senior Captain that was in the exact same program and process as I except that he was attending the Kellogg school. We became instant “battle buddies” and martial arts workout buddies as well.

My “battle buddy” was a West Point graduate, and as most of us, he was well infused with the Army warrior spirit, ethos, values and principles… honor and integrity above all. He had a beautiful family and our families became friends for life.

Throughout our extremely rigorous academic endeavor, which lasted for 2 years, we often discussed our futures, both in and out of the Army. We discussed the possibility of accepting a corporate position in private industry and continuing our military careers in the U.S. Army Reserves or National Guard, as we incurred an additional military service obligation due to the Army providing this “elite” level of graduate education… so they said.

Very similar to Tony Hsieh who made tough sacrificial decisions, when it came time to make the sacrificial

decision of whether we stayed in the Army or departed to Corporate America, after much debate and discussion, we both decided to follow our heart and transition toward Corporate America. I accepted a position in the international retail, wholesale and distribution industry and my “battle buddy” accepted a position in a leading investment banking firm. Interestingly, his motives to accept that position in that particular industry did not seem to be commensurate with his values, principles and character. His motive was money… pure and simple. Our families discussed it at length, however, he was dead set on going to Wall Street and making it big.

As time went on, my battle buddy and I kept in touch. I was progressing well and having a great time in my new career and passion, as well as in my part-time military career. On the other hand, my “battle buddy” was not fulfilled. Yes, he made it big. However, although he was earning an incredible amount of money and was professionally successful, he was not happy. He eventually transcended into a depressive state. I decided to go visit him and have a deep conversation.

During our visit, my “battle buddy” stated very clearly that although he was earning an incredible amount of money, the values, principles, integrity and honor which had been so deeply engrained in him, simply did not exist in his organization or the industry in general. He did not know how to cope with the personal conflicts and discrepancies in values… integrity… honor. He had thought of everything from quitting to committing suicide. I, as a good friend, did not know what to do, except listen, pray and have my pastor and prayer group in church get involved. He was in despair and his situation was bleak.

About 2 weeks after the visit (and after much prayer), he made a decision.

In a similar stage in his career, Tony Hsieh of Zappos made the tough sacrificial decision to sell Link Exchange. He sold the Company because he was not happy with the direction of the corporate culture… he had lost control of the corporate culture vision. He simply walked away because he was miserable although he could have made much more money if he had continued.

My “battle buddy”, as Tony, also made the tough sacrificial decision. He decided to quit and change his life completely. His father was a gifted craftsman and wood furniture artisan. He had acquired this trade, as well as his artisan gifts and talents, from his father. Although he always pondered and favored the idea of applying himself to that trade, he never did, as he felt he could do… “better”.

Both Tony and my “battle buddy” followed their true heart, their “Kyo Kushin Kai”. My “battle buddy” finally returned to his roots in his part of the Country, he applied himself to the life-trade that he had acquired from his father, he re-engaged in part-time military service and was very successful, he started a highly successful and reputable martial arts academy, he even managed the Craftsman Association retirement pension fund that his father and uncles belonged to.

He and his family were happy and finally at peace.

No, Tony Hsieh was not earning the high profits generated by Link exchange…

No, my “battle buddy” was not earning the ridiculously high compensation in Wall Street…

However, they both followed their True North… their True Heart… their Kyo Kushin Kai.

Are you following yours?...