Business and Money Tips

Why Every Sun Tzu Student Should Learn Yijing Whenever I conduct a course on Sun Tzu's Art of War, participants are often fascinated by the strategies, tactics and timeless wisdom that have guided leaders, generals and businesspeople for over 2,500 years. However, I always remind them of one important fact: Sun Tzu did not create strategic thinking. He inherited it from something much older. That source is Yijing (I Ching), often regarded as the foundation of Chinese philosophy, strategy and leadership thinking. Many people know that Sun Tzu teaches us how to win. But fewer people realize that before we can choose a strategy, we must first understand the situation we are facing. This is where Yijing comes in. Sun Tzu answers the question: "What should I do?" Yijing answers the more fundamental question: "What is really happening?" Think about the decisions leaders face every day: Should I expand or consolidate? Should I confront or cooperate? Should I invest now...

如果我32年前懂得爱的智慧，我或许会用不同的标准选择和经营关系。 今天回头看，决定一段关系能否走到最后的，从来不是爱得有多深，而是双方有没有能力在漫长岁月里持续成长。 为什么聪明人也会选错伴侣？因为他们用短期指标选择长期队友。 选择伴侣，不是在谈恋爱，而是在选择长期博弈的队友 很多人以为爱情靠感觉维持，但事实上，真正能够走几十年的关系，本质上是一场长期博弈。 在《爱的智慧》中，我常说： > 爱不是一种感觉，而是一种能力 。 爱的智慧，就是在 长期关系中持续展现关爱（Care）、勇气（Courage）和连接（Connection）的能力。 热恋其实不难。 困难的是： 十年后还能不能尊重对方？ 冲突时还能不能保持理性？ 失望时还能不能选择善良？ 压力来临时还能不能守住原则？ 这些都不是情绪的问题，而是 品格的问题。 很多人选择伴侣时，看的是短期价值： 好不好看 有没有钱 有没有地位 带出去有没有面子 这些指标在恋爱初期或许重要， 但放到三十年的婚姻里，它们的价值会快速折旧。 真正决定关系质量的，是长期价值： 是否善良 是否愿意成长 是否能够承担责任 是否拥有正直的人格 是否能够处理冲突而不是逃避冲突 而这些，正是爱的智慧的核心。 因为关爱Care让我们愿意理解对方， 勇气Courage让我们敢于面对问题， 连接Connection让两个人能够共同成长。 我经历过30年的婚姻，也经历过婚姻的结束。 如果今天有人问我： 「选择伴侣最重要的条件是什么？」 我的答案可能很简单： 不是财富，不是外貌，不是学历。 而是这个人有没有爱的智慧。 因为外貌会改变， 财富会起伏， 地位会消失， 但一个拥有高爱的智慧的人， 即使遇到风雨， 依然会选择善良； 即使面对诱惑， 依然会选择正直； 即使关系出现裂痕， 依然愿意沟通和成长。 长期博弈的终极秘密，从来不是找到一个完美的人。 而是找到一个 愿意与你一起成长，并且拥有爱与正直的人。 因为所有关系最终都会回归到同一个问题： 当激情退去以后，剩下来的是什么？ 如果剩下来的是关爱，勇气和连接， 那么这段关系，才真正拥有穿越岁月的力量。

Looks Fade, Wealth Fluctuates, but Only One Thing Determines How Far a Relationship Will Go We live in a world that often teaches us to choose partners based on short-term indicators. Is he attractive? Is she successful? How much does he earn? Will he make me look good in front of others? These questions may matter at the beginning of a relationship, but they become far less important when life unfolds over decades. Because every meaningful relationship is, in reality, a long game. And in every long game, the rules are different. In short-term games, people can pretend. They can impress. They can hide their flaws and exaggerate their strengths. After all, if there is no expectation of a future together, there is little incentive to be completely authentic. But long-term relationships reveal everything. Time has a way of exposing character. Pressure has a way of revealing integrity. Difficulties have a way of uncovering what lies beneath the surface. The person who appeared perfect duri...

Most leaders can quote Sun Tzu: "Know yourself, know others, and you need not fear the result of a hundred battles." But many misunderstand what it means. They think it is about knowing: * Their strengths * Their weaknesses * Their competitors That is only the surface. In the corporate world, "Know Yourself, Know Others" is really about understanding **human motivations**. Why does one employee embrace change while another resists it? Why does one stakeholder support your proposal while another quietly opposes it? Why do capable people sometimes create unnecessary conflict? The answer is often not competence. It is fear, incentives, values, aspirations, and perceptions. The most effective leaders understand that people rarely resist change itself. They resist: * Losing control * Losing relevance * Losing recognition * Losing certainty This is where many leadership approaches fail. They focus on processes, systems, and KPIs. But Sun Tzu understood that every strategy...

The most misunderstood Sun Tzu strategy is not "Know Yourself, Know Others" or "All Warfare is Based on Deception." It is:  "To Win Without Fighting" (不战而屈人之兵) Most people interpret this as: Avoiding conflict Being nice Compromising Giving in Seeking peace at all costs That is not what Sun Tzu meant. What Most People Think "Win Without Fighting" means: "Let's not argue."  or  "Let's keep everyone happy." This creates weak leadership. Sun Tzu was never advocating passivity. What Sun Tzu Actually Meant Sun Tzu meant: Create such a strong strategic position that fighting becomes unnecessary. The opponent cooperates because resistance no longer makes sense. The customer buys because trust has already been built. The team follows because they see the direction clearly. The stakeholder supports because interests have been aligned. You still win. You simply don't need the battle. Win with...

Many people think independence means not listening to others. It does not. True independence means being able to hear many voices without losing your own. Today, we are surrounded by influences: Social media tells us what to think. Friends tell us what to do. Society tells us what success should look like. AI can even tell us what to say and write. The greatest danger is not that others influence us. The greatest danger is that we no longer know what we truly think, feel, and believe. What Is an Independent Mind? An independent mind can: Think without blindly following. Feel without being controlled by emotions. Decide without seeking constant approval. Change when evidence changes. Stand alone when necessary. An independent mind is neither stubborn nor rebellious. It is clear. Why Most People Lose Their Independence Many people become dependent on: 1. External Validation "I am valuable only if others approve of me." 2. External Authority ...

Buddhism's Four Immeasurables and Love Intelligence (LQ) 1. Loving-Kindness (慈) → CARE Buddhism:  May all beings be happy. LQ:  Care for people genuinely. Examples:  Listening attentively,  Encouraging others,  Being patient,  Giving recognition At work:  A manager notices an employee struggling and asks: "How are you coping?"  rather than  "Why are your numbers down?" This is Care in action. 2. Compassion (悲) → CARE + COURAGE Compassion is not pity. Compassion says: "I feel your suffering, and I want to help." Many people have empathy. Few have compassionate courage. Example:  A leader notices burnout. Low LQ:  "Everyone is stressed." High LQ:  "Let's redesign the workload." This requires courage. This is why Love Intelligence goes beyond empathy.  It includes action. 3. Appreciative Joy (喜) → CONNECTION This may be the most neglected quality today. Modern society teaches comparison. Buddhism teaches celebration. Instead ...

The song "Flying Without Wings" is actually a beautiful expression of what I would call Love Intelligence (LQ) , even though it never uses the term. The song is not really about romance. It is about discovering the deeper things that give life meaning. That is exactly what Love Intelligence seeks to do. 1. Care: Seeing What Truly Matters The song begins by saying: Everybody's looking for that something One thing that makes it all complete. Many people spend their lives chasing: money,  status, promotions, possessions Yet the song reminds us that fulfillment is often found in: a child's face a loved one's eyes friendship shared moments simple experiences This is Care . Love Intelligence begins when we pay attention to what is truly valuable instead of what is merely visible. A high-LQ person notices: the people around them the beauty in ordinary moments the emotions beneath the surface 2. Courage: Fighting for What Makes Lif...

For much of my life, I thought love was a feeling. I thought love was something you felt when people appreciated you, supported you, or cared for you. I believed that if the feeling was strong enough, relationships would last, teams would work well together, and life would somehow fall into place. But life taught me a different lesson. Over nearly four decades of working with people, I saw intelligent leaders fail because they could not connect with others. I saw talented individuals lose opportunities because they lacked trust and influence. I saw families drift apart, not because there was no love, but because there was no understanding. That experience forced me to reflect deeply. What was missing? Why do good people still hurt each other? Why do relationships break down even when both parties once cared? The answer I discovered was simple, yet profound. Love is not merely a feeling. Feelings come and go. Some days we feel loving; other days we do not. If love is only a feeling, the...

Nowadays, there are not many comedies worth watching. Yet people still long for a good laugh. The other day, I found myself laughing uncontrollably as a friend shared how they created their videos. There was no script. No professional comedian. No carefully crafted punchline. Just a simple story told honestly. And somehow, it was hilarious. It reminded me that the best comedy is not found on a stage. It is found in everyday life. The funniest moments are often the most genuine moments. A misunderstanding. A spontaneous remark. A child's innocent comment. A friend's unexpected reaction. Those moments are candid, authentic, and real. Years later, we may forget the movie we watched. But we still remember that moment when everyone laughed until tears came out. Why? Because laughter is connection. And connection is one of the highest forms of Love Intelligence. When we are fully present, we notice the beauty, humour, and humanity around us. Life becomes lighter. Relationships become...

A SuperME does not just see people. A SuperME sees the beauty, potential, and greatness within people, often before they can see it themselves. When others doubt them, we believe in them. When others criticize their weaknesses, we remind them of their strengths. When others focus on what is missing, we focus on what is possible. This is Love Intelligence in action. It is Care:  taking the time to truly see another human being. It is Courage:  speaking words of encouragement when it is easier to stay silent. It is Connection:  helping someone feel valued, seen, and understood. No amount of money can buy this. No AI can automate this. No technology can replace this. Today, try a simple experiment: Praise one person ten times. Not with empty flattery, but with sincere appreciation. Notice their effort. Acknowledge their character. Recognize their growth. Celebrate their contribution. You may think you are giving them confidence. But something else happens...

Love Intelligence (LQ) creates raving fans because people do not become loyal to products. They become loyal to how you make them feel. A product can satisfy.  A service can delight. But only a human connection can create a raving fan. When viewed through the lens of LQ, the process is simple: 1. Care Creates Trust Most businesses focus on transactions. Raving fans are created when customers feel genuinely cared for. Not "customer service."  Not scripts.  Not "Have a nice day." Real care. When a customer feels: "This person sees me." Trust begins.  Trust is the foundation of every raving fan. 2. Courage Creates Memorable Moments Most service people play safe. Raving fans are often created when someone has the courage to do what is right rather than what is required. Examples: Staying back after work to solve a customer's problem. Admitting a mistake immediately. Refunding without arguments. Telling the customer the truth even w...

Why do smart leaders fail despite having more technology, more data, and more intelligence than ever before? In an age where Artificial Intelligence can generate reports, analyze information, and automate decisions, many organizations are facing a surprising challenge. Employee engagement is falling, burnout is rising, and trust is becoming increasingly fragile. The problem is not technology. The problem is that many leaders are becoming technologically stronger while becoming emotionally weaker. Drawing on research from Gallup and Google Project Aristotle, real-world case studies from healthcare, banking, customer service, and AI transformation initiatives, as well as the author's experience in KPMG Management Consulting and corporate leadership, this book explores the human capabilities that remain essential in the AI era. Inside, you will discover: • Why intelligent leaders sometimes struggle to inspire trust • The hidden reason many AI initiatives encounter resistance • What hi...