Mr Miyagi Management

“Wax on… Wax off…”

“Wax on… Wax off…”

As you may have noticed by now, I have a penchant for 80’s and 90’s movies. I’m sure you can guess which movie that immortal line is from?

If anyone said Jackie Chan and the 2010 version of the Karate Kid — please hang your head in shame. How dare you?

It is of course from the legendary Karate Kid movies of the 80’s and was said by Mr Miyagi to his student, Daniel-San.

It was around Mr Miyagi’s ‘unorthodox’ method of training, getting Daniel to do all sorts of chores around the house, such as waxing the car, painting the fence and painting the house. Daniel, of course lacked the foresight of his mentor and impatiently said ‘you’re just a slavedriver’ and stormed out. What he eventually realised however, was there was a deeper meaning — through the deliberate practice of the chore, he had trained him to be able to perform key karate moves. Then he trained him how and when to use it and against all the odds, battling against insult and injury he became a champion defeating the evil Kobra Kai in the final. Cue end scene, rapturous applause etc.

This is a story I tell to many of my young students, apprentices and employees. Particularly those on the younger side. It is quite common to belittle menial or basic tasks given to you, given the desire to do something more significant. But you don’t know what those basic, simple tasks are teaching you. Discipline. Patience. Persistence. Following instructions. Teamwork. I am not saying not to ask questions. But trust in your mentor, your manager, your leader. Trust that they have the best of intentions for you. That everything you do, will result in growth for you. No effort is wasted, after all.

Your time to lead will come. But for now, listen. Do what you’re told. With ihsan. With intensity. With intention. Be the best follower. After all, the Prophet (SAW) was the best of followers. And being the best follower led him to becoming the best leader, too.