Stick to the Plan – Mastering Internal Warfare as a Tech Trainer
When working with difficult learners, frustrating team members, or chaotic clients, never lose your cool.
Treat distractions like bugs in the code—don’t panic, debug calmly.
That’s the essence of Robert Greene’s Counterbalance Strategy in The 33 Strategies of War.
It’s not about external combat. It’s about internal warfare—mental survival, especially in the tech world.
Chaos is Normal. Your Reaction Shouldn’t Be.
Tech projects fail. Clients change scope.
Learners give up. Stakeholders demand the impossible.
In those moments—whether it’s a broken build, an unstable internet connection during training, or an uncooperative learner—emotions rise.
Frustration, pressure, anxiety—they attack your peace of mind.
That’s where most lose the battle—not in the code, but in their mindset.
The Power of Presence (of Mind)
The difference between a great trainer and an overwhelmed one comes down to one thing:
Presence of mind.
Many react emotionally to bugs, delays, or resistance.
They rant, argue, or try to force solutions.
But in doing so, they:
- Lose clarity
- Drain energy
- Damage relationships
Fools Are Everywhere (Even in Tech)
- The learner who blames the tool, not their approach
- The client who talks over your expertise
- The teammate who panics during a code review
- The sponsor who dismisses your insights
Your instinct might be to argue, correct, or prove them wrong.
But that’s your ego trying to speak.
That’s weakness disguised as strength.
Engaging emotionally drags you down.
The smarter move?
Treat distractions like a syntax error. Fix what matters, ignore what doesn’t.
You don’t yell at your IDE. You adjust and move on.
This isn’t passivity.
It’s professional control.
It’s mental warfare without engagement.
Tech Example: Tyson vs. Douglas
Let’s borrow from boxing.
1990. Mike Tyson vs. Buster Douglas.
Tyson = Overconfident, sloppy.
Douglas = Calm, focused, disciplined.
Tyson came in thinking the fight was already won.
Douglas used his grief as fuel and stuck to his plan.
In Round 8, Tyson landed a big hit.
But Douglas got back up, stayed composed, and executed.
By Round 10, he knocked Tyson out.
Douglas didn’t win because he had better tools.
He won because he had presence of mind under pressure.
Same applies in tech.
Strategy for Everyday Tech Battles
-
Observe without reacting.
Whether it’s a bug, a blocker, or a difficult learner… pause then process. -
Don’t argue with resistance.
Whether it’s a team member or trainee, redirect the energy. Lead by calm example. -
Detach when needed.
Your calm presence will earn more respect than any heated defense. -
Save your bandwidth.
Not every battle is worth your processing power. Focus on high-value outcomes.
Final Lesson
Your real war is with your own ego—the part that wants to react, defend, and dominate.
In tech and in life, true power is the ability to stay unmoved.
The most effective trainer in the room?
Not the loudest.
It’s the one who stays clear-headed, calm, and composed.
Stay focused.
Stick to the roadmap.
Execute with calm.
📬 Contact Me
📚Request a tutorial • 📩Send me a DM
