This monk’s wisdom can bring career success – and end procrastination

This entrepreneur is basically a Buddha in the boardroom. Walter Gjergja (Shi Xing Mi), co-founder and chief health officer of Zing Coach, a personal trainer app, also happens to be the first official non-Chinese master of the 32nd generation Shaolin Temple and has been a lay monk since year 2006.

As Gjergja explains, a lay monk is someone who completed Buddhist studies and took vows in a temple, but then decided to return to regular society to teach his knowledge to a wider audience.
“My work broadly consists of sharing the ancient wisdom of Shaolin, augmented by contemporary scientific knowledge and my various experiences,” said Gjergja, who is based in Lugano, Switzerland.
George uses this wisdom to work with people to improve health and wellness, performance and fitness, mindset and attention, strategy and effectiveness, habits and focus.

Over the years, Gjergja has worked with sports teams and athletes, such as the Milan soccer team, Olympic and world champion medalists in ice skating, professional racing drivers and world champion martial artists. He has also worked with medical clinics and research centers and universities across the globe and founded the European Shaolin Culture Centers in the early 2000s before co-founding ZingCoach in 2020.

A typical day in the life of a lay monk includes a 6 a.m. start for energy exercises, meditation, jogging, strength training, and martial arts. After breakfast, Gjergja prepares for the day’s tasks, including a “careful prioritization.”

The afternoon features Shaolin movements and stretching, and the evening includes reading, writing, planning and reflection.

With such a disciplined schedule, Gjergja certainly knows a thing or two about work efficiency, especially overcoming one of the most common ailments of modernity, with all its distractions: procrastination.
“Shaolin is a culture of action and it has taught me time and time again that action is the antithesis of procrastination”, said Gjergja. “Doing the ‘thing’ is the main focus, taking small steps towards it in the present, as it is the only actionable time when we can do something.

Gjergja believes that to overcome procrastination, three steps are needed: to understand the shortness of time, to start and not to stop.

The procrastination comes from indecision and lack of structure, said Gjergja. “Drawn today feels like it’s being invaded by too much freedom,” he added. “We’re faced with endless choices, constant streams of information, and this pressure to always be busy, but that doesn’t translate into being productive.”
George compared this to the image of standing at a buffet with more food than you can ever eat, ending up paralyzed by options and choosing nothing. “Many people fall into the trap of endlessly searching for the best way to do something or waiting for the right moment to start, when in reality neither exists,” said Gjergja.

One way to break the cycle of procrastination is by creating a personal ritual, just like the Shaolin monks, who integrate ritual practices into their daily lives to maintain discipline and focus.

“Your ritual can be as simple as starting each workout with a five-minute breathing exercise or spending a few minutes writing down your priorities for the day,” suggested Gjergja. “Start with a small, daily ritual, like setting a timer for focused work sessions followed by short breaks.”

So-called “micro commitments” or what Gjergja calls “small, low-pressure promises to yourself” can have a big impact on your life.

“By committing to just five minutes of work, you remove the mental barrier of getting started, and often, once you start, it’s easier to keep going,” said Gjergja. Or, tell yourself that you will only work on a task for two minutes. This takes the pressure off of a huge time commitment, making it easier to get started, and most of the time, those few minutes become much longer. “But even if they don’t, you’ve made a step forward,” he said.
One of the most common reasons for procrastination is missing out on the bigger picture.

“Of course, having a big vision is important, but without actionable steps, it’s practically useless,” he said. “Instead of getting overwhelmed by the ultimate goal, break it down into smaller, more achievable tasks. Make a plan that outlines each phase so you can focus on one activity at a time.â€

The step of defining your big goal and writing your game plan is essential. “For example, if you are starting a business, break it down into steps, such as market research or building a website. Then, take those milestones and turn them into daily, small tasks — one or two key actions each day, he said.

Therefore, you should create a timeline for accountability, he said, but remain flexible. “Focus on steady progress rather than perfection and track your small wins to build momentum. Remember, the vision inspires, but the action makes it real”, said Gjergja, emphasizing that as long as you take that first step “however small, the momentum will continue”.

No matter what you do in your career (and life), George wants us laypeople to know that you should always keep a “beginner’s mind,” as it’s known in Buddhist vernacular.

“As we strive to be experts in our chosen fields, the attitude of the expert often stops us from growing, as well as robs us of the engaging and charismatic enthusiasm of the novice,” he said. “To thrive, become the wisest expert and yet remain the most curious novice. Also, find opportunity in every challenge. There will be plenty of both.â€