Why Zen and Enlightenment at StrateZen
StrateZen exists because we believe every business can become a strategic asset.
The foundation of StrateZen is deeply influenced by the wisdom and clarity found in a wide range of literary works that explore value, purpose, and human potential. While the complete list is extensive, several notable texts have shaped our mission and worldview:
•The Prophet – Kahlil Gibran: A poetic reflection on life’s essential truths.
•The Dharma Bums – Jack Kerouac: A narrative of spiritual awakening and the pursuit of meaning.
•Get Sht Done* – Jeffrey Gitomer: A no-nonsense approach to productivity and taking action.
•Strategic Mindset – Peter Meurisse: A playbook for forward-thinking leadership.
•Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance – Robert Pirsig: A philosophical inquiry into value, quality, and inner harmony.
•Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind – Shunryu Suzuki: A timeless introduction to the spirit of openness and presence.
•Zen Mind for Beginners – Judith Barry: A clear path toward clarity and inner calm.
•Buddhism – Kevin Trainor: A comprehensive study of Buddhist philosophy and its modern relevance.
•The Vision of the Buddha – Tom Lowenstein: An exploration of Buddhist principles through cultural and historical lenses.
•Aikido and the Dynamic Sphere – Westbrook and Ratti: A guide to non-resistance, flow, and discipline in both physical and mental spheres.
•Trappist Monk – Alan Watts: A deep meditation on spirituality and disciplined simplicity.
•And so many more...
These works have shaped how we view the world, how we serve clients, and how we define the essence of StrateZen.
For us, Zen isn’t just about calm or minimalism—it represents focused intentionality. Zen means showing up with clarity, acting with discipline, and eliminating unnecessary complexity. It’s about being fully present while maintaining a strategic mind and direct, purposeful communication.
Enlightenment, in our context, reflects a drive toward deeper understanding, systems thinking, and constant self and organizational improvement. It pushes us to question assumptions, embrace simplicity, and remain open to change.
This philosophical foundation is lived out through StrateZen’s daily practice: helping businesses transform into streamlined, value-generating assets.
StrateZen was born from our Founders’ diverse and multidisciplinary leadership experience—spanning entrepreneurship, strategic planning, finance, insurance, risk management, military, higher education, healthcare, IT, cybersecurity, real estate, coaching, F&B, corporate board development, and more.
This range of insight revealed a consistent pattern across industries: most individuals and organizations lack the tools and guidance needed to operate efficiently, make strategic decisions, or intentionally mitigate risk. The pursuit of productivity and clarity is universal, as shown by the immense popularity of self-help and strategy literature — Google Scholar alone lists over 1.2 million related publications in the past two decades.
At StrateZen, we’ve translated this pursuit into a practical, holistic model that combines deep insight with direct action—empowering our clients to build businesses that run with intention, scale with structure, and grow in value.
This is why we exist. This is StrateZen.