Let me say something that might sting: mediocre, ordinary people have a habit of making both “rising up” and “making money” far more complicated than they need to be.
The path upward is genuinely simple. It has exactly one core principle: devote yourself completely to building your inner mastery.
Take my own life as an example. My daily existence is as stripped-down as an ascetic monk’s.
I do five things every day: earn money, train my body, learn, review, and maintain relationships. And for each one, I push for a small, visible gain before the day is over.
I read four categories of books: history, macroeconomics, classical Chinese studies, and biography. Every few dozen pages, I stop and distill what I’ve absorbed in my mind.
I cultivate three types of people: those better than me, those I can genuinely learn from, and those who are truly loyal to me. I’ve always kept a sharp line between “acquaintances I know” and “friends I’ve chosen.” The former get basic courtesy. The latter get everything I can give.
I scroll short videos too, in my downtime. But I only save three kinds: things that teach me something, things that expand my perspective, and things that genuinely lift my mood.
Beyond all of the above, there is nothing else in my life. I don’t allow anything else.
Even when something unexpected lands on my plate, I don’t procrastinate. I handle it with absolute decisiveness — cut it down on the spot, deal with it immediately.
In short: when a mountain blocks the way, carve through it; when a river blocks the way, bridge it. Press forward on every front. Never waste energy fighting yourself.
Then return, as fast as possible, to your original rhythm.
From where I stand — having seen the people and the world I’ve seen — I can offer you one piece of genuine inner wisdom with full confidence:
Remember this: whether you’re turning your life around, building wealth, or getting things done — none of it is fundamentally about scheming your way through one massive problem.
It is about consistently, day after day, repeating the things that are pure and effective. One pawn forward each day. That’s all.
As the old saying goes: the Dao of Heaven is supremely simple; true mastery requires no artifice. This is the most formidable skill there is.