What Jason Bourne taught me.

This article is not so much about Jason Bourne as it is about the most valuable lessons which I believe he can teach us. Those who are familiar with him know that he is an exceptionally gifted special forces agent who was created by American author Robert Ludlum. The "Bourne Trilogy" is one of the most widely read spy series. It was later adapted into critically acclaimed action films starring actor Matt Damon.

Jason Bourne is often compared to Ethan Hunt and James Bond in terms of skills and abilities. To be fair, all three could claim the top spot in the fictional spy hierarchy but there is something very unique about Jason Bourne that sets him apart from the other two: he is a loner who does not depend on an organization to support him. If he were a businessman, Bourne would be the founder of a highly innovative startup which somehow manages to successfully fight multinational companies on their turfs. Of course, this does not prevent him from occasionally needing the help of other people.

I cannot certify that Jason Bourne is better than James Bond or Ethan Hunt but I personally believe that his character has greater depth than those of his main rivals. This is what led me to identify the three lessons below. Please note that these lessons reflect my personal understanding of this special agent. They are not meant to provide a description of Bourne.

1. Self-reliance works best when you know your own limits

As incredibly skilled and powerful as Jason Bourne is, there are situations that are simply too difficult for him to deal with on his own. This is especially true when he is physically incapacitated and cannot act decisively to gain the upper hand. Even lone wolves need a pack from time to time and Jason Bourne understands this. He knows how to keep his ego in check when it becomes clear that he can no longer control events. This could be due to factors that he failed to anticipate or simply because he is outmatched. In either case, Bourne is wise enough to seek the help of people that are often not as lethal as he is but whose contributions prove vital in helping him stay alive. Key lesson: Achieving excellence in a few fields of expertise or some areas of our lives can blind us into believing that this will be enough to handle whatever comes along. This is simply not true. Weaknesses will always be present and can strike us down in the most unexpected ways. Seeking the help of trusted and competent individuals when it comes to dealing with those weaknesses can, paradoxically, immensely improve one's ability to be self-reliant.

2. When situations deteriorate, do not expect them to improve.

Jason Bourne is a supreme realist. He cannot afford to count on luck or he might end up with a bullet in his head. One of his greatest assets is his situational awareness: he assesses situations and the people involved for exactly what they are and does not expect them to be something they are not. An assassin running after Bourne to strike him down is exactly that: an assassin looking to strike him down. Jason Bourne does not let any unwanted emotion cloud his understanding of reality. He deals swiftly with whatever he comes across and does not cook happy endings in his mind just to feel good. Only when Jason Bourne has taken action and is satisfied with the result does he take a step back to reassess the situation and move forward. Key lesson: It is tempting to drop one's guard and wish for things to be different when too many negative factors strike at the same time. This is dangerous and can lead an adverse situation to snowball into a full-blown avalanche. Instead of betting on things to get better, move first and act decisively while making the most of what you have.

3. Instinct is nothing more than the sum of talent and hard work applied over a very long period of time.

At the beginning of The Bourne Identity, Jason Bourne has lost his memory and has no recollection of his past. He does not know who he is and can only count on the help of Doctor Geoffrey Washburn to solve part of the mystery that surrounds him. Washburn quickly understands that Jason Bourne is not an ordinary man and deduces that he must have abilities that are applicable in very unique situations. After doing his best to stabilize Bourne's condition and treat his wounds, Washburn decides to carry out an experiment. He gives a gun to Jason Bourne and asks him to take it apart. Bourne does it so expertly that it becomes immediately apparent that he underwent a tremendous amount of training to be able to achieve this. Even without his memory and with no understanding of where he came from, Jason Bourne's instinct springs into action and gives a glimpse of what he truly is albeit only for an instant. Key lesson: Actions that are consistently repeated over time with the specific intent of achieving a very high degree of efficiency eventually become part of our DNA. This truth tends to be forgotten in an age dominated by short-term thinking. Mastery, in all its forms, cannot be downloaded with an application.

Conclusion: More than forty years after Jason Bourne was created and twenty years after the death of Robert Ludlum, the cryptic special agent is still as lethal as ever. The world has changed tremendously since the time when Bourne was fighting international terrorists but he remains very inspirational. His resourcefulness, drive to win, adaptability and never-say-die attitude are eminently applicable qualities in daily situations. They do not require being one of the greatest fictional special agents of all time.

Good luck,

Ashley Boolell | www.ashleyboolell.com