Sharpen Your Sword or Watch Your Empire Fall

Hey, it's Arik.

I want to share an analogy with you that might sound intense at first, but stick with me, because it's going to change how you think about your team and your business.

Business is like battle.

Not in a violent way, but just like in battle, if someone doesn't have your back, you're all going down together.


Let me explain what I mean:

In battle, the people around you (your team) are your comrades. If one person screws up, everyone pays the price. If someone doesn't show up, doesn't do their job, or breaks under pressure, the entire unit suffers.

In business, it's the same energy. Every mistake, delay, or lack of focus compounds.

One weak link, and the entire operation pays the price. Whether it’s losing a client, missing a window of opportunity, or damaging your reputation, everyone will feel the consequences.

I'm a firm believer that your success is tied to mine, my growth impacts yours, and we rise together, or we fall together. And because of that, sharpening the sword (the habits, mindset, and systems that make you better every single day) is non-negotiable.

If you’re not continuously sharpening your edge, you’re dulling it, and a dull sword is useless in battle.

You should always be expanding your mind, upgrading your skills, strengthening your body, growing your network, and surrounding yourself with people who push you to be better.


Innovation Is the Ultimate Weapon
Let’s zoom out for a second.

BlackBerry used to be the gold standard for mobile. At one point, they owned nearly half of the U.S. smartphone market. Yet, they became a fallen dynasty because they stopped innovating.

They got comfortable, stopped sharpening their swords, and then Apple came along—a company known for innovation.

Every year, they push the boundaries and are constantly getting better, whether through a big leap or a small tweak. And that’s the lesson: the moment you stop getting better is the moment you start losing.


Sharpening the Sword Looks Different for Everyone
For me, it means constantly improving across four pillars:

1. Mental Expansion: Your mind is your primary weapon, and you should keep striving to learn every day. Whether it’s reading a book, having a conversation, listening to a podcast, or just sitting with a problem long enough to understand it differently.

2. Physical Health: Your body is your vessel, and energy drives everything. You can’t lead, think clearly, or execute at a high level if you're tired, sluggish, or unhealthy.

3. Skill Development: Every skill compounds when mastered intentionally. Whether it’s strategy, leadership, or communication, you need to make sure you're getting better at something at least every month.

4. Network Growth: Your network determines your net worth, but more importantly, it determines your growth trajectory. Are you around people who push you to be better? Or are you the smartest person in the room? If it's the latter, you're in the wrong room.


The Compound Effect of Daily Improvement
Apple didn't revolutionize everything overnight. They made incremental improvements, year after year. Your business works the same way, and your personal growth works the same way.

Don't ask yourself if you're good enough today. Ask yourself if you're getting better. Because your competition is, your industry is evolving, and your clients' expectations are rising.

Action Steps for This Week

• Audit Your Edge & Daily Inputs: Write down the three areas of your life or business that you feel need improvement, then block 2-3 hours every week specifically for learning something new or improving these areas.

• Seek an Energy Shift: Book one conversation, attend one event, or connect with one person who’s doing something great and borrow momentum from their energy.

• Track your improvements: Take one process, one habit, or one product you use every day and ask, “How can this be done better?” Then implement it and keep a simple log of what you're getting better at each month.

• Make it a team sport: Share this philosophy with your team. Create a culture where everyone is committed to continuous improvement.

See you next Thursday,
Arik