I firmly believe that if you take the assignment at the end of this article seriously, it will bring about a genuine transformation in your life.
A reader once sent me this question: “Master Chi, why do some people — who clearly have no real ability — keep getting lucky windfalls from the universe, one after another?”
My direct answer: impossible. First, a person with no real ability might stumble into unexpected money once in their lifetime — at most. Second, even if they do, they won’t be able to hold onto it. If someone keeps receiving windfall after windfall, it only means they have qualities and advantages that you simply haven’t been able to see yet. They definitely do. You just can’t read them.
Understand this: the world we live in today is one where both the reapers and the crops are plentiful. No matter how smart or wealthy you think you are, if you face a higher-caliber player without caution and rational decision-making, even a mountain of gold can be harvested down to nothing — it’s only a matter of time.
So anyone who, in today’s climate, can both hold onto their wealth and still have the energy to climb higher — they may appear rough around the edges, casual and easygoing on the surface, but behind that facade, they are working harder and more steadily than you could imagine.
And the reason they’ve achieved what they have today always comes back to one simple, humble principle:
Accumulate small steps to travel a thousand miles — using one modest, seemingly insignificant advance after another, the kind others dismiss as barely worth making, to slowly climb to a height that leaves people in awe.
This is also the conclusion Master Chi arrived at after crawling out of the mud himself and engaging in deep conversations with many wealthy, accomplished, and exceptional people. Quite a few of them came from humble origins and built everything from scratch. Did they have special talents or natural gifts? Not particularly. They simply understood how to break each phase of their life into small, manageable segments — and how to break their life goals down into individual objectives they could actually handle.
So while others stood frozen before towering ambitions, these people were already racing ahead — completing one tiny, “insignificant” goal after another, achieving rapid growth through sheer accumulation.
I once had a candid conversation with a senior brother who heads a major state bank. He shared his journey like this:
“Master Chi, I never once dreamed of grand ambitions or extraordinary achievements in my life. I’m just a kid from a farming village who managed to climb to where I am today — nothing more than understanding how to do the work in front of me better than others.
Back in our day, there was none of this polished, comprehensive financial training infrastructure that exists now. Most of the work, we had to figure out ourselves. So we figured it out. One small workflow understood per week, one complete solution worked through per month. Day by day, year by year, I gradually became the most technically capable person in the branch.
The same went for relationships — with colleagues, supervisors, everyone. When something went wrong, I didn’t just sit there fuming. I thought about where I could improve and took the initiative to resolve it. When a connection wasn’t flowing right, I didn’t panic. I thought about how to make the other person open up to me, then put in the appropriate effort to build the relationship. There’s always a turning point if you keep at it.
These days, a lot of young people complain they have no opportunities to get ahead. In my view, that’s nonsense. Don’t you know where your professional skills are lacking? Have you actually worked on improving them? Is your relationship with your superiors strong enough? Have you made the effort? Are there gaps in your work performance? Have you filled them?
In our time, it was a closed-book exam — and we didn’t even know what the questions would be. Today it’s open-book. If you can’t pass it now, you have only yourself to blame.”
After writing all of this, Master Chi thinks it’s time to give you an assignment.
So, with the New Year just passed and Spring Festival still ahead, I’d like us to build the habit of setting one small, achievable goal each week.
And I mean small. I don’t want to hear about grand visions or bold declarations of what remarkable things you’ll accomplish in this lifetime. I’ve met more than enough people who talk a big game. The more rousing the speech, the more hollow it rings to me now.
What I’m hoping for is this: every week, in the comments section, set one small goal for yourself. The goal must be small — something you can genuinely accomplish within seven days.
For example: this week’s goal is to finish reading a meaningful book. Next week’s goal is to gradually shift toward a healthier, lighter diet. The week after that, begin trying some form of exercise — running, yoga, whatever suits you.
Remember: do not make the goal complicated. The more complex it is, the easier it is to abandon halfway — and the more likely you are to lose that feeling of “I gained something new this week,” which is exactly the momentum you need to keep.
My goal for you is not to swallow everything in one gulp and choke. It’s to take one step at a time, bringing your life’s logic into proper alignment — using the mindset of accumulating small steps to travel a thousand miles to make yourself progressively stronger.
You need to be clear about this: either don’t post a comment — but if you do post one, you must follow through. Say it, and do it. Rain or shine, no giving up.
Are we clear?
Note: every weekend, I will check in on your small goal progress based on your comments. Don’t slack off.
Since this is the first time I’m giving out this assignment, you can keep it light — perhaps sketch out an initial reading plan, or a plan for the visits you’ll make over the Spring Festival period.
Now then — I’d like you to share in the comments what your small goal for this week is. Any content is welcome. I’ll be there with encouragement and good wishes. I’m looking forward to it.