I believe every one of us needs to come to terms with a very important reality: we are currently in a critical climbing phase.
By “climbing phase,” I mean that after more than forty years of economic development, we are gradually growing toward becoming a genuine top-tier world power.
This creates an awkward situation, because both the number-one power we’re aiming to surpass and its constellation of allies will do everything in their power to trip us up and lay traps for us.
Yet I’ve never seen this as a problem.
Rising from second place to first has always been a path of hardship and struggle — it was never going to be otherwise.
Even the current number one — the bald eagle (the United States) — once staged a complete comeback under the full suppression of the British Empire and ultimately displaced it.
Rationally speaking, the resistance the bald eagle faced back then was even greater than what we face today — at its peak, the British Empire commanded an enormous network of colonies under direct control.
But once you weather the suppression and complete your own growth, what follows is a glorious golden fifty years.
Until a new, nearly unstoppable challenger emerges.
Namely, us.
I know — you might think this has nothing to do with you or me. We’re just a drop in the ocean, ordinary people living ordinary lives. What do these sweeping tides of history have to do with us?
In reality, everything.
Those who know me well know that I travel widely — the US, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Europe — making the rounds every few years. So compared to those who’ve never set foot outside and yet hold court with opinions every day, I have at least a slightly more grounded perspective.
And what I’ve noticed clearly over these years is this: the entire world is sinking into a deepening culture of resignation — a collective giving-up.
I wouldn’t go so far as to say their leadership has abandoned effort — that would be too strong. But the clear sense I get is that the entire Western world — along with Japan and South Korea — has abandoned that drive to buckle down and do something great.
There are various reasons for this, but at the root of it all, they’ve lost the ability to unite as one and march toward a common goal. As nations, this is not a good sign.
Certainly, we ourselves are not perfect, and there is still much room for improvement. But the spirit of bearing down and wanting to get things done — that drive has never dissipated. And that alone is reason enough for optimism.
I am, at my core, a businessman. No matter how much of my work involves the depths of traditional Chinese metaphysics, that fundamental nature hasn’t changed. And as a businessman, the greatest wealth has never been money — it’s the hard-earned wisdom accumulated from years of navigating the world, and the lessons learned the hard way.
Speaking honestly, and at the risk of catching flak: I personally feel that the hardest phase is gradually passing. Most of the bad news and negative signals have already played out.
If someone wants to argue with me and demand evidence, I can only say: intuition and gut feeling.
After all, the core issue at hand is that pockets are getting thinner. That’s no small thing — but compared to what the rest of the world is facing, it’s really not worth dwelling on.
Oh, and speaking of which — last September I made a trip to the US and Canada. What struck me most was that after just three years away, a hundred dollars barely buys anything anymore.
Next to an old property I own in Vancouver lives a typical white middle-class family — a retired couple who used to run their own dental practice, with children who are engineers and accountants. On that visit, I stopped by to bring them airport gifts and catch up. At the end of our conversation, they sighed and said: “Life is definitely getting harder.”
By this point, perceptive readers should be able to read between the lines of everything I’ve written. Some things, when spelled out too sentimentally, end up feeling hollow.
My own stance, as always, remains unchanged.
I believe 2024 will be an ordinary year — but not a dull one. We must hold steady.
By “ordinary,” I mean there won’t be many of those supposed get-rich opportunities. Likewise, be wary of anyone around you talking up wealth opportunities — maintain vigilance.
If you want to talk about real wealth opportunities — then I’d say that in 2024, steadily cutting unnecessary daily expenses, reading more, exercising more, spending more time with family, and making small incremental attempts in your career: that is the greatest wealth you can build.
As for why I say 2024 won’t be dull — it’s because I expect it to mark the beginning of many significant events. And for us ordinary people, the best approach is simply to stay out of it, protect ourselves, and watch as the tides of history reshape the world.
Finally, I want to say: in the year ahead, Master Chi will continue to accompany you — offering practical perspectives on life and growth, and sharing the profound wisdom of Chinese metaphysics.
The dragon is in the field — and as the Year of the Dragon (Jiachen year, 2024) gradually finds its footing, that is already something to be grateful for.