Lessons from the Mat

The 12 Martial Arts Principles That Will Help You Succeed in Business and in Life

By: Benjamin Chen, Scott Burr

Narrated by: Benjamin Chen

"An idea began to form then for a simple framework outlining and clearly articulate everything I'd learned: all of the lessons from the mat that had carried me to the pinnacle of success; a distillation of knowledge that could help others not just in their careers, but in their lives as well."
—from the Author's Preface

Drawing on nearly 40 years of experience both on the mat and in the boardroom, serial entrepreneur and martial artist Benjamin Chen reveals how timeless martial arts wisdom can provide a powerful guide for achieving personal and professional success.

In Lessons from the Mat, Chen breaks down the 12 core principles that will help you focus your efforts, seize the moment, adapt to challenges, and more effectively build the career—and the life—you want.

Whether you're an entrepreneur, an executive, a small business owner, or a freelancer—whether you’re navigating boardroom negotiations, launching a new venture, or working to turn your passion into a profitable business—these time-tested principles will help you navigate the challenges you face while maximizing your impact.

Step onto the mat. The fight for your success starts now.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2025 Benjamin Chen, Scott Burr (P)2025 Benjamin Chen, Scott Burr

Applicable Far Beyond the Mat

This book is absolutely excellent, so much so in fact that I "read" it twice. I only gave the performance four stars both to make my review more realistic, and because the author himself reads it, and he is not a professional voice actor. That having been said, I like it much better than a voice actor because he knows exactly when and where to add emphasis, to slow down, etc.

But what truly stand out are the actual lessons, and they are based on first principles that apply in every field and to every body. I am a lifelong martial artist, head of a large Brazilian Jiu Jitsu organization, and a tenured university professor. I am also a husband and a father, and I hold these last two as most important, rewarding, and challenging. The book is absolutely relevant to and helpful for all of these various roles and responsibilities.

In short, whatever fields or areas you are currently active in, or wish to master in the future, I can recommend this book without reservation.