The Shoshin Learning Principle

Shoshin—a beginner’s mind—changed everything for me.

When I first heard about it, I rolled my eyes. “Approach everything with curiosity and openness”?

But I was absolutely wrong.

Shoshin isn’t just some fluffy feel-good Zen mantra.

It’s a no nonsense and practical hack get literally better at anything.

It taught me that mastery doesn’t come from knowing everything — it comes from religiously mastering the basics with blistering intensity.

And I didn’t learn this sitting cross-legged in some Zen retreat.

I learned it the hard way: by getting absolutely destroyed in a game of Street Fighter against my brother when I was 7 years old.

We both chose our characters. I went with Blanka, a big green monster and my brother, picked Dhalsim, the skinny guy that looked like a yoga teacher.

Big mistake… or so I thought.

Blanka was a beast — lunging, punching, and electrifying anything in his path.

Then it happened.

Dhalsim’s skinny leg shot across the screen and tripped me. I laughed it off, ready to get back up, but before I could even move — trip.

Again.