Zentropism’s Applications for Homeland Security

I was recently asked by a colleague and friend that has been following my writings to devote a posting to the topic of Homeland Security, and the applications of the Zentropist approach towards law enforcement, counter-terrorism and private sector security consulting operations. This is actually a subject close to the heart, in part due to both past and current personal and professional associations that I keep, my undergraduate studies (my 2-part graduate level thesis was sadly somewhat prescient regarding today’s global political environment, developed during the autumn of 1991 and spring of 1992 with a focus on domestic counter-terrorism for Part I and counter-insurgency operations for Part II), as well as a close family member that works as a special agent for a federal agency that shall go nameless for now.

Needless to say, I firmly believe that the Seven Primary Attributes that are fundamental to the Tao of the Zentropist have direct bearing on the ability of a civilian (including sworn law enforcement personnel, who in my opinion should NOT be separated out from this grouping) or military operative/agent/officer to improve the skills necessary to effectively predict, identify, and disrupt potential terror operations.  If one thing is abundantly clear, the shocking (at least in the eyes of most Americans) events of September 11, 2001 were caused by not only a colossal failure of intelligence-gathering and information sharing among a myriad of often competing and dangerously bureaucratic civilian and military governmental agencies, but also by an inexcusable failure of imagination. Quite simply, folks that should have known better simply could not fathom the unconventional means that could be employed to sow terror and strike at the “soft underbelly” of a target, namely the United States, which in the case of the fundamental and malignant interpretations of Islam existing in certain Sunni and Shi’ite traditions, is the very manifestation of corruption and decadence.

One of the most important constructs of the Zentropist approach to life, whether as a tool used in the pursuit of one’s occupation or as a guide to self-improvement and mastery, is an appreciation for unconventional thought and the necessity of not becoming beholden to rigid interpretations of data, as well as a marked aversion to bureaucratic “group-think” and “passing the buck,” which sadly, seem to be the hallmarks of far too many institutions. Those who work in the security consulting / “personal protection” field understand that the moment one has to draw a weapon to protect a client (arguably one of the last lines of defense), there has already been a certain amount of  “failure” in the system; because if proper planning, including threat assessment and analysis and the resultant preventative measures, was performed prior to the assailant(s) breaching the “inner ring” of the protection circle, then the best efforts to circumvent the undesired action were obviously flawed.

As those who follow such things now know, the 9-11 hijackers could have been disrupted at several junctures in their ramp-up to operational status had the right people been able to put the pieces together. Occam’s Razor, which states that, “All other things being equal, the simplest explanation tends to be the correct one,” is a very useful axiom to keep in mind. It is absolutely mind-boggling, for example, that a flight school would not find it odd that students were interested in learning how to take off and fly commercial aircraft, but had little interest in landing. I’ve been around aviation long enough to hear pilots (at least those that intend to live to fly another day) remark that, “Take-off is optional but landing is mandatory.”

As much as I personally find the expression, “thinking outside of the box” to be repeated ad nauseam by those that don’t grasp its implications so as to begin to lose any meaning, it is important to acknowledge that we must never let our preconceived notions, cultural biases or ignorance and underestimation of the commitments of others deter us from seeing through their eyes so we might better understand likely behavioral patterns. We must never become so blind to the fact that when our antenna is clearly telling us that the other party is doing “X,” we fail to address this threat because in our worldview, “X” is unfathomable and therefore, we falsely conclude that the other party is surely doing “Y.”

While Sherlock Holmes is a fictional character (to our great loss, in my opinion), his creator, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, was a keen observer that made Holmes’ deductive reasoning and ability to read his environment based on subtle clues feel so real as to border on the preternatural. Yet these skills, and more important, the attitude and discipline necessary to develop them, are well within the realm of the possible and align quite fittingly with the capabilities of the Zentropist. As the fictional Holmes commented to his fictional friend/companion/biographer John Watson, “When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.”

One of the challenges of the Zentropist is deciding where the line of “impossible” begins and accepting that even the “improbable” must be given credence when all available evidence points in that direction.

You don’t build a hypothesis, much less a theory, by manipulating the “facts” (which includes errors of omission) or observable phenomena to fit your conclusions; you must collect, parse and analyze all available data and then seek to deduce patterns which explain that which you’re witnessing.

This is made all the more important, with the stakes dangerously high, when it comes to maintaining the security for human life, whether individual or collective.  Because when you play on the “defensive,” you need to be right 100 percent of the time, while the “offense” potentially only needs to be right once…

In a future posting, if there’s sufficient interest, we can delve into Zentropism’s applications in asymmetrical warfare, a.k.a. counter-insurgency operations or low-intensity conflict, which are often related to but distinct from counter-terror operations…

Specialist, Generalist or Zentropist?

Many societies, both Eastern and Western, demonstrate an almost pathological need to classify and categorize things, perhaps in an effort to impose some “social order,” or at the very least, the artifice of one.

It is hardly breaking news that as I write this, the global economy is undergoing an enormously painful “correction” or “transition” or perhaps even “complete meltdown of the existing order,” with all the attendant consequences, ramifications and “bad juju” that this entails. People at virtually all levels are feeling the impact (and those that have not, as of yet, perhaps should beware of being smug, as the stage is becoming fertile for more contentious expression of dissatisfaction, namely peaceful or even violent revolution from certain quarters), and the accompanying disharmony and chaotic energy unleashed is not inconsequential.

With job security being an illusion for all but a fortunate few, many people are finding themselves having to actually give meaningful thought to the career paths and choices that they have made, engage in “personal branding” (this blog quite frankly being an expression of this idea), and really try to develop a longer-term career strategy. In doing so, and performing such frank soul-searching, those in the working world will often have to contend with being labeled by others as a “specialist” or “generalist,” although in recent years, as I previously referenced in a blog posting (“The Zentropist Defined: The Fourth Attribute”), the term “versatilist” has entered the lexicon among savvy workers.

Of these various existing labels, the Zentropist is closest in relation to the definition of a versatilist, although characteristics of both the generalist and specialist will be found. If we examine the concept of “Zentropism” as a philosophical and ethical framework, the inevitable realization that should follow is that anyone, no matter how lofty or humble their occupation is perceived to be, can embrace the Primary Attributes and utilize these not only for occupational growth, but personal development as well.

By imposing labels of “generalist” or “specialist” on a person, whether this is done internally by one’s self or by others, we immediately limit the potential of that human being to evolve and transform. If we dig deeply enough, even the individual widely perceived as fitting the traits of a “generalist” is apt to have command of some sub-set of knowledge, no matter how arcane, narrow or “useless,” to encroach on the domain of a “specialist” in that particular field.

It is probably self-evident, but perhaps not to all, that one of the primary criticisms of the “generalist” is that while this individual knows a little about a lot of things, he or she is unable to go “beyond the surface” when deeper understanding or command of certain skills or knowledge is called for, and perhaps is even perceived as a bit of a dilettante that flits from one thing to the next, without “mastering” anything.

Of course, the Zentropist can only smile at the notion that “mastery” has a fixed goal line that once crossed, can never be exceeded or improved upon.

Conversely, the “specialist” can be in high demand and well-regarded in his or her field, so long as this knowledge is perceived as being valuable to others, but as soon as that knowledge becomes (or is perceived to be) outdated, commonplace, or simply no longer relevant, that individual is seen as a dinosaur or one unable to change with the times and adapt to new circumstances.

Humans should not have expiration dates, beyond the time when our journey in this world is finished. Up until that moment, as the Zentropist understands, barring deterioration of our minds / body / spirit, we retain the capacity to learn and to grow. The Greeks spoke of gnosis (“knowledge”) and sophia (“wisdom”) as being highly desirable for individual cultivation, and these are indeed highly worthy goals for us to pursue, so long as we understand that we will never reach the finish line. It is a journey without end, in which the road we travel will reveal many things about ourselves and others.

So rather than allow yourself to be branded by others, or worse, to perceive yourself as falling into the “generalist” or “specialist” camp, accept where you are today and commit to embarking upon the path of the Zentropist. If you expand your thinking and refuse to accept the limitations that are often self-imposed or even (all too often unfairly) placed on you by others, you may surprise yourself with what you can accomplish if you “get your mind right” and commit to the path which beckons.

We all have something of value to contribute to this world, and if we accept this not as a burden, but as a sacred or simply meaningful statement of fact, our lives, and the lives of those that intersect with us, no matter the duration of such contact, will be richer for it…

The Zentropist Defined: The First Attribute

We have previously defined a Zentropist as someone who, “Harnesses the potential for work and creativity available within a system and through enlightened application of knowledge and skills, and the alignment of carefully considered goals and objectives, achieves a desirable and harmonious outcome.” In order for this to actually be meaningful and actionable, those that embrace this philosophy need to possess the capability to bring measurable value to their interactions, whether in the professional or personal arena.

There are Seven Primary Attributes that must be cultivated in order to become a Zentropist. These are Willingness, Discipline, Adaptability, Knowledge, Character, Courage and Understanding. Over upcoming weeks, we’ll explore each of these in more depth.

It should be understood that the Primary Attributes are all inter-related and connected, although the order of presentation is no accident. There is a natural flow to the order, which as with many things in nature takes the shape of a circular structure. From the expression of the Will, as defined below, the Zentropist learns Discipline. Through the disciplined approach, rather than fall into regimented, inflexible modes of thought or behavior, the Zentropist learns the value of Adaptability. With the understanding that force can have but one direction at a time in a given moment, the Zentropist gains insight into Knowledge in its myriad forms. With Knowledge, the Zentropist builds Character, with the end goal to share the wisdom, as it has been shared with him or her, and to bring light to the darkest recesses. As the Zentropist solidifies and forges Character, Courage manifests itself, expressed in the choices that are made, the actions and paths taken (or not), the measure of the things which the Zentropist holds dear. From Courage springs Understanding, the ability to see things for what they are; the realization that despite the chaos and confusion which roil the surface, we operate in a world that seeks to find stasis or balance, and as an agent of change, the Zentropist is responsible for restoring equilibrium. This brings the Zentropist full circle to the power of the Will.

Although resistance, both internal and external, may be encountered on the journey of expanding one’s mastery of each of these Attributes, it is a part of the process whose value cannot be understated. Resistance ultimately makes the mind, body and spirit stronger, and all of these must continuously evolve, for the alternative is stagnation.

As a Zentropist, Willingness signals a commitment to growth in all its forms. The Zentropist must display, “The Willingness to engage in life-long learning and exploration to hone one’s knowledge to a razor edge.” There are simply no shortcuts to this path. It involves the application of one’s curiosity, thirst for information, and quest for continuous improvement over time. It is a lifelong journey whose destination always lies over the next mountain, or across the next swift-moving river or vast body of water, or across the seeming barrenness of the desert.

Learning over the course of the Zentropist’s lifetime may take many forms, from formal instruction and schooling to impromptu observations of others; from apprenticing or shadowing those in possession of a desirable skill set to transmitting one’s knowledge as a teacher or instructor; for the wise teacher acknowledges that the student, inadvertently or not, may impart lessons every bit as important as those that he or she desires to communicate.

This I Believe…

Many of you may be familiar with National Public Radio’s (NPR’s) audio program, which originated decades ago and was resurrected in recent years and brought back to the airwaves. I thought that it might be productive to give this some thought, and what follows is my submission, which can be found in NPR’s archives as well..

“Mastery is a Path and Not a Destination”

“I believe that the constant practice of the Art of Wing Chun will enable me to transcend to a higher mental and physical level.”

So begins the pledge that has been handed down within Traditional Wing Chun Kung Fu. Gung Fu, literally means “work performed over time” signifying a lifetime commitment to self improvement, self-mastery and the full realization of one’s potential.

Practitioners of various martial arts traditions quickly learn that the physical aspects of such training are but one level of understanding, and that the real value of such practice is to embrace the moving meditation, discipline and life lessons that are intertwined with the physical expression of the art.

For one without the other is an empty vessel, regardless of whether one studies a traditional Eastern system or more modern Eastern or Western variant. Invariably, in the hours spent honing one’s physical skills, a transformation occurs, particularly when sparring, when failure to “live in the moment” and “flow like water,” to borrow a famous quotation from Bruce Lee, results in the unpleasant consequence of getting hit.

Life is like that. Since we cannot know the future, and we cannot defend without fail from every possible angle of attack, it is inevitable that we will take our hits, and from this reality must spring an attitude that no matter what, I’ll keep going and persevere. We all get knocked about and sometimes even knocked down in life, but what separates those who are most successful from those who have given up is their willingness to wade back into the fray and apply the lessons learned.

Some of these lessons are embodied in Wing Chun’s core principles.

Guard your centerline. Whether in a physical fight or simply going about one’s daily routine, you must always be aware of what is most vital to you, and avoid allowing your center to be compromised. If you don’t know what is important, and you don’t have a solid sense of your center, you will be vulnerable and ultimately directionless.

 

Don’t fight force with force. All too often, our first instinct is to meet strong energy with the same. If we’re stronger than the energy we are encountering, we may overwhelm it, but sometimes it is better for us to deflect or release that energy instead and counter on a different path. Within every crisis lies opportunity.

Remain interruptible. While it’s important that we commit to a course of action, if we over-commit we lose our balance, unnecessarily exposing our center. We must retain the ability to shift quickly to another path, so when one gate is closed to us, another one opens. The destination does not necessarily change; how we get there does. The ability to adapt to adversity, to turn failure into ultimate success, is what keeps us going in our darkest hours.

And, finally, when obstacles seem most daunting and we question our most basic assumptions, we would do well to remember that, “Mastery is a path and not a destination.”

Jonathan Ross is a writer and business consultant who lives in Los Angeles. He is currently undergoing instructor training in Traditional Wing Chun Kung Fu under the guidance of Sifu Eric Oram one of Si-gung William Cheung’s leading instructors. He is also an American-trained instructor of Krav Maga now affiliated with Eyal Yanilov and the International Krav-Maga Federation. His consulting Website is found at www.blackrockconsult.com